Greetings All, my first post on MFK. I’ve been lurking for a while and can’t get enough of reading the posts here, they’re an absolute wealth of information. I’m relatively new to the aquarium scene, with fish in them anyway. My creature hobby of choice has been arachnids for years, particularly tarantulas. I set up a 10 gallon tank for someone a while back with some barbs and loaches, and found the learning experience quite interesting. I subsequently snagged a betta, put it’s setup on my desk and got the bug to delve more into finned things. I have been all over the place in anticipation of setting up a decent (for me) tank, but when I came upon the world of Polypteridae I was hooked. I’ve pretty much lost all interest in anything not “ancient”, or at least ancient looking. So, the primary question I have currently is whether or not the consensus is to house different poly species together, or separately? I know of course many, maybe most, keep them together. However, my question centers on what is the best case scenario. In tarantula world almost nothing lives with anything else. So, cohabitation is new to me.
Requesting Some Input
- Thread starter FrDoc
- Start date
Cohabitation is totally possible with polys, I can't really say that they thrive from it; ropefish are extremely social fish and they benefit from groups, polys can be kept alone or with others and as far as various species Its totally fine
All bichir have different temperments. I have an 18in P. teugelsi and a 13in P. endlicheri that live with, amongst others, 2 6in P. senegalus whom they could definitely take down if hungry enough. The polypterus family of fish tend to not care for each other unless food is not in abundance or they can fit in their mouth.
A great video (and article) on youtube I like that will explain social hierarchy and aggressive situations in polys is:
To summarize: they won't really hurt each other even when they do fight as long as they can't eat them.
A great video (and article) on youtube I like that will explain social hierarchy and aggressive situations in polys is:
To summarize: they won't really hurt each other even when they do fight as long as they can't eat them.
U can keep any bichir with any bichir. As long as it can’t be eatin by another. Some r exceptions tho I had a ornate that would bully a single fish to death then pick a new target. out of 30 polys that was the only one that did that. So if u do get one that’s a total a hole don’t stress cause the next 10 won’t be that way. The cheaper polys r the upper jaws. They also do not grow as large as the lower jaws. With the exception of ornate, Teugelsi, and weeksii. They get big. Welcome to the world of polys man I hope u have deep pockets cause u r gonna be diggin in em lol
I truly appreciate all the input folks. I’m leaning toward initially setting up a 75g with two or three dels.
One other thing, does having something swimming higher in the tank, i.e., dither fish, seem to help with the poly temperament, or is it a nonissue?
One other thing, does having something swimming higher in the tank, i.e., dither fish, seem to help with the poly temperament, or is it a nonissue?
No problem at all man. Iv had gar arowana oscars and several other things swimming around they don’t care as long as they can’t eat it. Most fish also ten to not bother them. Even more aggressive ones usually leave polys alone. Not all but a lot
Yes, should be fine as long as the other fish are large enough not to become dinner.
What else are you thinking of keeping? Any reason you're doing all Dels? I love how they look but some of the other upper jaws are fun, like the Pollis and Sens because they tend to be a little more active and interactive in my experience. But I do understand that the Dels kind of look the most 'ancient' for upper jaws.
What else are you thinking of keeping? Any reason you're doing all Dels? I love how they look but some of the other upper jaws are fun, like the Pollis and Sens because they tend to be a little more active and interactive in my experience. But I do understand that the Dels kind of look the most 'ancient' for upper jaws.