Stock Opinion [Oscar + Ornate Bichir]

[Jon M]

Hey guys. I've been looking into bichir more and more lately and the more I do the more I really consider keeping one. I find it interesting that they can be housed in smaller tanks since they can grow to up to an impressive 26."

Anyhow, I'm really just looking for opinions on my tank I'm considering this in and what you guys think. I already have a good idea of what I might have to do for it to work but I'm going to keep my opinion to myself initially because I'm curious what you guys think.

I have a 120 gallon tank with 48 x 24 x 24 foot print. Currently I'm housing a 6" Red O, 2 5-6" Tinfoil Barbs, 1 4-5" SD, and 1 9" Sailfin Pleco.

I also have a 100g with 60 x 18 x 21.5 foot prints. Wow, I actually always thought it was a 90g but just remeasured and input the measurements into a tank gallons calculator. Anyhow... In this tank I currently have 1 6" JD, 7 quarter sized SD, 14 1.5" GD, 6 2" Clown Loach, 1 2.5" Pink Convict, 1 2.5" FM, 1 2.5" Clown Loach.

The 100g was originally to rehouse my JD because he was shredding my O. It served that purpose and then kind of turned into a grow out with my O started eating all the GD, SD, and CL, and my girl friends second Pink Con started beatin' up her other Pink Con.

Here's my plans I currently have for moving things around. The Giant Danio were originally for the 125g but I'm convinced even at full size my O will eat them since he couldn't help himself being only 6." The 7 SD were planned for the 125g and I still plan on moving those to the 125g. Rocky somehow managed to eat one of them so I'm letting them get a bit bigger (probably like actual silver dollar size like the one that's in there now that does fine) before moving them. The 6 Clown Loach were originally planned to be the bottom column of the 125g as a school but seeing as how my O couldn't help eating CL either they were moved. I'm thinking since they grow very slow they might end up staying in the 100g for a long time. Which I guess is fine. Also I originally got the FM for my 125g but my O tried to eat him. I was planning to let him grow bigger and try him in there again.

With all that said I guess my current plans are to leave the JD, Clown Pleco, 14 GD, Convict, and 6 Clown Loach in the 100g and move the 7 SD and FM over to the 125g.

Now I'm considering a Ornate Bichir in my 125g. I've read this is a suitable tank size for them and that they are typically a bottom dweller which seems like it would be ideal for this tank since the bottom column is now open. Not sure how an O and Bichir would get along but my O generally doesn't bother anything unless he can eat it. (except the sailfin he messes with him sometimes)

Sorry that was such a long read. So anyhow, opinions? Think I could do a Ornate Bichir in my 125g np? Think I don't have any room no matter what? Need to find a new home for a few fish to make it happen? I'm curious to any opinions whether it's moving fish, finding another home for a fish that's not one of my tanks, etc. Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[BigO6687]

My ornate keeps to himself. My Oscar and him have absolutely nothing to do with each other, the only problem I have is getting food down to him, but now that problem has been virtually gone due to my feeding tilapia. I'd also watch out for that plec sucking the slime coat off of your bichir.

Bichirs are addictive dude, I already want like 10 more in my next tank.

 

[Jon M]

My ornate keeps to himself. My Oscar and him have absolutely nothing to do with each other, the only problem I have is getting food down to him, but now that problem has been virtually gone due to my feeding tilapia. I'd also watch out for that plec sucking the slime coat off of your bichir.

Bichirs are addictive dude, I already want like 10 more in my next tank.

First post correction: My "120g tank" is actually 53" long so I guess it's a 125g. I knew 48" sounded wrong. Sorry bout that.

Thanks for the feedback. I was beginning to think no one was going to give me any since my message is so long, lol. I tend to ramble on when I write new threads but I like to provide as much info as possible.

I don't doubt their addictiveness. They look really awesome. I'm glad to hear your feedback that you have an O WITH a Bichir just fine. I love O but the Bichir looks really ancient/awesome and seems like a fish that people would come over and go "wow what is that!?" Stock size though, do you think with the 7 SD from the 100g +the one already in there so...

8 SD
1 O
2 Tinfoil Barbs
1 Sailfin

...it would be okay? I was thinking someone was going to say "ditch the sailfin and it should be alright." I know sailfin pleco are about as much bioload as a typical O. I was considering moving him into the 100g... Not sure. That's why I'm askin' opinions on what you guys would do with this stock and tanks to add a Ornate Bichir.

 

[NCStateFisher]

thats what i would do, move the pleco as there are many stories out there of them sucking bichirs slime coats - as you've been warned though, it is an addiction within an addiction to have polypterus

 

[Jon M]

thats what i would do, move the pleco as there are many stories out there of them sucking bichirs slime coats - as you've been warned though, it is an addiction within an addiction to have polypterus

Alright cool, but as far as stock goes no one sees any problem with the JD, 14 GD, 1 Clown Pleco, 1 Pink Con, and the 6 CL in the 100g with the Sailfin stock wise? And 8 SD, 1 O, 2 Tinfoil, 1 FM,and the Ornate Bichir in the 125g?

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Just make sure the bichir is large enough to defend itself should the O decided to have any funny ideas. And yes, remove the pleco.

 

[Jon M]

With the Sailfin in the 100g think the two stocks sound decent but not overstocked? Quick recap of what it will be once everythings moved:

125g
1 O
1 FM
8 SD
2 Tinfoil Barb
1 Ornate Bichir
100g
1 JD
1 Pink Con
14 GD
6 CL
1 Clown Pleco
1 Sailfin Pleco

Also, I'm not to familiar with how the ornate bichir's thickness grows with the length. I know thickness might even be more important than length in this scenario to make sure my O doesn't eat him. Does between 8-12" sound a. long enough and b. thick enough to not be eaten by my O? He's 6" and growing.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

yup a well-fed 8-12" ornate should do fine.

They can get real thick once all grown up. The thickest I've seen is about 4" diameter

 

[Jon M]

Good stuff. Now to go through the trouble of moving my Sailfin. He's fast and will likely be a pain to catch. Now I need to find an 8-12" Ornate Bichir to purchase too. There's a big like 24" one in aquabid (too big might eat current residence) and 5" ones (too small might get eaten by residence).