Small bichir and aro question

[Chaitika]

My Polypterus teugelsi just landed and while the list said he's 8", he's more like 6". (No surprise there, most fish seem to shrinkin size while they travel from the supplier to the hobbyist) I also picked up two 5" ornates. These guys are too small to go with my 14" RTG, but at what size will they be able to go in the big tank with the RTG? Or is a 6" bichir big enough?

 

[beblondie]

Simple answer look at the size of the arrows mouth.When the bichirs look to big to fit then its okies-Anne

A 6'' bichir could be a nice snack

 

[Chaitika]

I was thinking the same thing, but I guess I just needed to know I wasn't being paranoid. Thanks!

 

[moonchild1970]

Kinda an expsensive snack too!

 

[beblondie]

not only expensive but those cute dorsal finlets are needle sharp and bichirs can literally lock them in place so it could be bad for all parties involved-Anne

 

[channarox]

GL with whatever you do.
my aro can easily eat many of his tankmates but never tries.

 

[Chaitika]

Thanks. I landed the 3 in a 80 gallon instead of with the aro. I plan on powerfeeding for a while to get some size on these guys before moving them in with the aro. It's all good.

 

[Freeze_Dried_Bloodworm]

I kept a 6" Senegal with a 17" Aro without a single problem, they've been buddies for like a year and a half until the Aro passed away

it was freaky though, I gotta say

 

[irgaa]

just try it mate. i never found such a problem in my tank..

 

[Chaitika]

lol, I'm not so concerned about the ornates disappearing as much as the teugelsi. I'll get the small guys eating well and will re-consider once they're established. Part of my reasoning is that I don't have much in the aro tank for them to hide under or in and I really don't want to clutter the aro tank with much decorations. But likle I said, once the small bichirs are eating well, I'll re-consider.