I am a little bit concerned about my bichir. I bought it yesterday from the LFS. It is eating but it is staying on the top of the filter and the heater. But when i drop some food it eats it. In my aquarium there is a pleco but not very big and the bichir. The substrate is coral sand and i have a little mangroove tree in there. So i don't think the pleco beats him, but i don't know. Is that a normal behaviour?
Strange behaviour
- Thread starter Dunhill
- Start date
Any other tankmate? Pleco will suck the slime coat of your bichir and will kill it. Remove the pleco instead.
Young polys naturally do this. It is and instinctive defense mechanism to avoid predation. As they grow or become more comfortable they be become bolder.
I haven't see the pleco near the bichir. I have a smaller tank(around 8gallon) with one johanni in there is it better to keep the bichir there alone until it grow up enough for the bigger or i should keep it alone in the 29gallon tank.
Oh thank you so much guys. I've moved the pleco and now the bichir is sitting under the tree. However the tank looks a bit empty. What type of catfish can i keep with the bichir?
+1 its normal behavior nothing to worry about. I had some of my new bichirs just float on top of the tank like its dead. Usually when stressed or trying to avoid predators like Aquanero has mentioned will do that.
I still think the problem was the pleco beacause minutes after removing it ghe bichir just lay on the gravel under the wood. And was just chilling. 
So, now i need another gravel cleaner. Any ideas?
So, now i need another gravel cleaner. Any ideas?