Senegalus Bichir in 88g/ good idea, bad idea?

[FishGoneWild]

It will be ok. I have more than 20 bichirs with my other community fish in a 75 gallon tank. Take a look at the pictures below.

Jeez, 20 bichirs plus a giant gourami. I hope you plan on upgrading to a 150gallons or bigger soon. What were you thinking? Your tank is obviously too small for your fish. Somebody need to give this guy a good ole American nut kick. America--><----tudiapaktam

i want a bichir but i dont know if it would be good to put it in my tank seeing how im going to put more fish in it too.what do u think? and what kind of fish could i put in it?

For a 88 gallon I think 8-10 bichirs is the max you can go for the fish to live comfortably. Stick to the smaller species bichirs and you'll have no problem down the line.

 

[Merbeast]

Before you kick him in the balls, ask yourself if his fish are healthy. Do you know? If his nitrates are in check and he's not having a problem with aggression or anything like that, more power to him. The water looked clean, and the fish looked healthy in his picture. If he is doing large water changes weekly, his nitrates probably aren't that bad.

88 gallons is a LOT of room for fish. As long as you pick species that are not aggressive to the bichirs, you should be able to add lots of fish. I don't find bichirs to be as hard on the water parameters as oscars or other big cichlids.

 

[FishGoneWild]

Merbeast, if that is the case then I'll going to the chinese market and pick up a few live bass and perch to stuff into my tank. I"ll be doing 80% waterchange every two days. More power to me right? His fish appears healthy but stuff 20 bichirs plus a giant gourami in a 88 is over doing it. This is a fish tank; not his meat freezer.

 

[Merbeast]

I politely beg to differ. He is a fish keeper. If the fish are doing well, then he is doing his job. You may disagree with his methods, but it is the results that matter.

 

[tudiapaktam]

tudiapaktam, are you sure that's not a low water line? I'd thought that you were keeping the level low as a lot of poly keepers do (myself included ) on purpose in deference to their need to surface. When my 12" lapradei shoots up he'll rap the lid if the water is too high. Not a face I want messed up with scars......

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Sorry, I miss understood what water line mean. I dare not put such a high level of water on this type of tank because the tank might expand and the 2 middle glass accross the top of the tank (use to put your overhead filter container) might pop out. I personally experience this with my other 75 gallon tank containing 2 feet silver arowana. One of the middle glass gave out due to the tank expanding and the overhead filter container fall into the water. My silver arowana freak out, it jump and injured head.

 

[Cohazard]

This is where sociology collides with morality/general consensus in the hobby.

I agree with merbeast that tudiapaktam's fish seem to be doing great, however FishGoneWild has a great point, since none of tudiapaktam's fish are adult size (except maybe the gold gourami?), reaching adult size in this tank is going to be an issue.

 

[tudiapaktam]

This is where sociology collides with morality/general consensus in the hobby.

I agree with merbeast that tudiapaktam's fish seem to be doing great, however FishGoneWild has a great point, since none of tudiapaktam's fish are adult size (except maybe the gold gourami?), reaching adult size in this tank is going to be an issue.

Understood your concern. I'm planning of moving half of them to another 75 gallon tank located below their current tank (double deck). The tank below is quite empty but it house 3 inch arowana. I'm afraid the bichirs will eat the arowana since it is small. Maybe when the arowana become bigger, I will move them. I'm also planning to give a few of them to my friend.

 

[Gourami Swami]

It's not water line, it's a reflection on the glass. As long I give enough food for all of them it's ok. I change 80% of the water every 1 week.

Are you kidding? Get a better pic of it... I dont think its a reflection on the glass.

And BTW giant gouramis need an 8' tank to fully mature and live out their life. I have personally seen 3' long GG's.

 

[tudiapaktam]

Are you kidding? Get a better pic of it... I dont think its a reflection on the glass.

And BTW giant gouramis need an 8' tank to fully mature and live out their life. I have personally seen 3' long GG's.

"Sorry, I miss understood what water line mean. I dare not put such a high level of water on this type of tank because the tank might expand and the 2 middle glass accross the top of the tank (use to put your overhead filter container) might pop out. I personally experience this with my other 75 gallon tank containing 2 feet silver arowana. One of the middle glass gave out due to the tank expanding and the overhead filter container fall into the water. My silver arowana freak out, it jump and injured head".

This is from my previous post.

 

[skiptomyzoo]

75 gallon tank containing 2 feet silver arowana.

Anyhow back on topic, a senegal will be fine, as long as the fish won't fit in it's mouth, and the care requirements such as temp. and ph , etc are relativly the same, then i dont see a problem. Senegals really arent agressive fish, i would be more concerned of something picking on the bichir really.