Tank environment

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T

titustitus

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 8, 2011
443
1
0
Singapore
Hi guys,

I have a few bichirs, rope fish and a fire eel and im wondering if it's ok to have a very bare tank - red quartz sand and mo hiding place? So it's just the bichirs laying around on the ground. Is that healthy? Or better to have hiding places?
 
the rope probably would like a hiding place but for everything else i think they're fine. They bichirs won't mind and the eel with burrow
 
Sounds good. How big is the setup?
 
I have a 14 ish inch ornate, 12 ish inch delhezi and a 6-7 inch Senegal. of the 3, the only one I see on a regular basis is the Senegal. with the lights on, the ornate I see once in a blue moon. delhezi now and again and Senegal practically all the time (tho now and again he hides in the plants) They hide for a reason. I know all individual fish are different, but I know mine would not be happy with nowhere to hide. more so the ornate and delhezi. would they eventually get used to being in the open? probably. but would they be happy? id say not. if they wanted to be out and about all the time im sure they would be. personally I don't think it is fair to take the option away from them just for my viewing pleasure
 
Haha the only place my eel ran too was the filter once. They are in a 2 feet grow out, all pretty small now around 2-4 inch. Hmm i guess im gonna have to agree with ian and leave the hiding placed inside for their welfare haha thanks guys
 
I would have something in there for your fish to hide behind. The stress level will be really high if you don't make the fish feel comfortable. Just my opinion.
 
Hides can be as simple as a few plastic plants and a driftwood with a certain shape to it that has a large hiding space beneath it, but still allows you to see the fish. Bichirs don't need tight hiding places, just somewhere shaded where they can duck for cover and feel hidden.
 
when I changed my decor/ hiding spots to allow for growth, I removed the inch and half pipe and replaced with guttering. for about a week the delhezi wasn't happy he didnt have his old tight tunnel and constantly buried himself in the sand. ive now had to change again to 4inch drain pipe and now they are settled they are happy. I dont disagree with the driftwood, but again all fish are different. it wont matter if you are having a bare type tank, but I found out that foot long bichir+burying+plants=a mess lol. Try and find a nice shaped piece of wood and see how it goes. if it doesn't work look at the situation again.

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have never seen my bichirs bury themselves, they are more or less chilling around at the front of the tank. shall post some pics soon haha. if only i can have one of every species of bichir, guess that is every bichir keeper's dream aye! care to share what species you guys have? :)
 
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