Questions about my baby endli

[Siluriformes]

A while ago I purchased myself a beautiful baby endli (I would like confirmation on that classification though), who seems to be doing wonderfully.
However, I am new to keeping polys, so although it seems so far like I have been doing everything right and am getting good results, I have plenty of questions.

I have already read relevant stickies.

My endli was about 3.5" when I got him, and is 4" now, and a lot more muscular. I don't think he had been fed for a while at the shop.

My tank is well planted with java fern and java moss, and has lots of hiding spots. I use a substrate of river sand and smooth pebbles. I keep the pH around neutral and do frequent moderate water changes.

***TANK SIZE (Tank are measured in litres where I live, so I have used approximations)

I decided to put him in my 7g tank so that he could grow up a bit on his own. I'm in the process of moving out, but when I do I will move him to a 13g (in about 3 weeks time) for the same purposes, and when he is big enough to not get eaten by the other preds, a 65g.

-Will the 65g be enough for him when he is fully grown?
-Is what I am currently using alright?

***FEEDING:

When I got him I had trouble getting him to eat, and although he was much livelier in my tank, he did not accept pellets or frozen bloodworms.
I gave him small gambusia (livebearers that I raise in my pond), which he ate, and continues to eat these days too. After a week of eating gambusia he became a much more effective hunter.

After a few attempts, he now eats frozen bloodworms. This supliments the gambusia, and the odd tadpoles (also from my pond). I tried feeding him a small beetle, but he would not touch it during the daytime and I don't know what happened to it during the night.

I want to feed him a staple pellet, but I am worried about what I have being too large for him. Also, where I live it is hard to get hold of many brands of fish food, so reading what others have suggested in forums has not been helpful.

-What kinds of pellets should I be feeding him?
-Will the size or shape be a problem?
-How often and how much should I be feeding him at this age?
-What other frozen food is suitable for an endli of this size?

***BEHAVIOR:

Usually a lively fish is a good sign, but my endli is worryingly active. The only time he hides is early morning, and the rest of the time he is out and about, usually excitedly swimming about the front of the tank like a hungry guppy.
I might just be paranoid. None of the behaviour would worry me if it were another type of fish.

-How active should a juvenile endli be?
-How would how much I feed him affect how active he is?

***PICTURE:

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs50/i/2009/339/2/f/Polypterus_by_Siluriformes.jpg

~Thanks~

 

[devder1]

125 bare minimum for life mor preferably 180

 

[Siluriformes]

Thanks for the response.
I'll look into getting bigger acommodation for him when he grows up

 

[GarNiac]

A while ago I purchased myself a beautiful baby endli (I would like confirmation on that classification though), who seems to be doing wonderfully.
However, I am new to keeping polys, so although it seems so far like I have been doing everything right and am getting good results, I have plenty of questions.

I have already read relevant stickies.

My endli was about 3.5" when I got him, and is 4" now, and a lot more muscular. I don't think he had been fed for a while at the shop.

My tank is well planted with java fern and java moss, and has lots of hiding spots. I use a substrate of river sand and smooth pebbles. I keep the pH around neutral and do frequent moderate water changes.

***TANK SIZE (Tank are measured in litres where I live, so I have used approximations)

I decided to put him in my 7g tank so that he could grow up a bit on his own. I'm in the process of moving out, but when I do I will move him to a 13g (in about 3 weeks time) for the same purposes, and when he is big enough to not get eaten by the other preds, a 65g.

-Will the 65g be enough for him when he is fully grown?
I agree, 125 g is minimum, but most people would get 150g instead, bigger tank is always better for their growth.
Endlis grow really fast, you better get the bigger tank ready.

-Is what I am currently using alright?
this is what I use when confused
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88431


***FEEDING:

When I got him I had trouble getting him to eat, and although he was much livelier in my tank, he did not accept pellets or frozen bloodworms.
I gave him small gambusia (livebearers that I raise in my pond), which he ate, and continues to eat these days too. After a week of eating gambusia he became a much more effective hunter.

After a few attempts, he now eats frozen bloodworms. This supliments the gambusia, and the odd tadpoles (also from my pond). I tried feeding him a small beetle, but he would not touch it during the daytime and I don't know what happened to it during the night.

I want to feed him a staple pellet, but I am worried about what I have being too large for him. Also, where I live it is hard to get hold of many brands of fish food, so reading what others have suggested in forums has not been helpful.

-What kinds of pellets should I be feeding him?
giving endli pellets on the first time is 50:50 chance, some would take longer specially if your endli used to eat meaty food. Otherwise endli would need to be trained to eat pellets. Most from what I read are using hikari massivore though I never use them caused its not available here.
-Will the size or shape be a problem?
no to big for your endli to swallow them I supposed
-How often and how much should I be feeding him at this age?
twice, or three time just dont overfeed them, cause leftover food will only cloud your water
more information available in the sticky, pls read them
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65770&page=2
-What other frozen food is suitable for an endli of this size?
market shrimp, fillet, beefhearts, and many others meaty food that you can prepare.

***BEHAVIOR:

Usually a lively fish is a good sign, but my endli is worryingly active. The only time he hides is early morning, and the rest of the time he is out and about, usually excitedly swimming about the front of the tank like a hungry guppy.
I might just be paranoid. None of the behaviour would worry me if it were another type of fish.

-How active should a juvenile endli be?
very active, even small endli can finish any tankmates which fit in their mouth.
-How would how much I feed him affect how active he is?
if he eats, then he lives, then also he moves

***PICTURE:

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs50/i/2009/339/2/f/Polypterus_by_Siluriformes.jpg

~Thanks~

answer in red

 

[Hao]

guys i think dimension would be better than volume 4x2x2 or 5x2x2 would do

 

[Akraziatic]

guys i think dimension would be better than volume 4x2x2 or 5x2x2 would do

I agree. For the time being (whilst growing) dimensions are more important than volume as long as you keep the water quality pristine. The quality of water will dictate growth before volume, given that the dimensions are comfortable for the fish. I have grown my endli out of a 70L tank when small all the way into a 600L tank (6x2x2 with sump).

Whilst trying to change his current diet it would be much easier to have him in a smaller tank with as little competition or tank mates as possible as this will aid in your monitoring of his eating habits and such.

Keep his diet full of high fish protein. Animal protein/fats are more difficult for most fish to process as because of evolution they haven't been exposed to these compounds. If you find him struggling to take the new diet try soaking the food in crushed garlic (natural appetiser) and hot water. If this dosn't work alone, starving is a common practice if you are comfortable with it (with garlic soaked food).

Hikari massivore/carnivore are the best pellets but if you can't obtain these try and find the breakdown of the products (eg. protein 40%) and look for a pellet that is available to you as closely matched to them as you can. If a flake food matches these requirements better try conditioning some live food with the flake and releasing into his tank and allow him to eat these. The quality of your live food is only as good as what they eat themselves.

In the end try and get him onto a staple diet which best matches his needs and into a tank which would best suit his size.

 

[spwd]

All mine have taken massivore broken into quarters and jmc catfish pellets and bloodworm,also they go mad for tetra pro colour flakes,these are about 5mm diameter with a red centre and chopped up prawn,cooked or uncooked.
I think the 7g is too small,put him in the bigger one.


Good luck

steve

 

[Darth Scohin]

What is in your pond and how big is it? You could stick him in there if it stays warm enough in South Africa

 

[Cholly]

Dip or roll the pellets in garlic, makes them stinkier and more likely to appear to be food. A lot of good pellets contain garlic already because of that. Predators for whatever reason, appear to like garlic.

 

[Siluriformes]

Thank you to everyone for the advice.

The good news is that my endli has taken to the pellets I gave him.
I can't get Hikari here, unfortunately, but the idea to look out for similar percentages was very useful, so thank you Akraziatic.
I've given him pellets with 46% protein, 5% fat, 2% fibre.

The garlic idea sounds like it could be very useful. I'll keep that in mind when trying new foods.

I didn't think of trying flake food, but I'll see what happens. It also reminded me that I can get hold of some meaty bits made for tetras that definitely wont be too big for him to eat.

The pond I have is unfortunately not suitable in my opinion. Besides the fact that I am moving out of my parents house in a couple of weeks, the pond is not at all regulated nor is it well maintained enough for me to trust putting a bichir in it. It mimics a natural shallow rocky pool. It is adequate for the couple of small goldfish and then the gambusia that that live in it, along with a variety of frogs and toads, but probably not for much more. I think it would also get too cold in winter. I live right near the Southern most point of Africa.