I have drift wood, live and fake plants, and large stones piled up in my tank, and I can say from my experience that the polys completely ignore the plants, and hide under the drift wood and weave themselves in the rocks. however, usually mine are out in the open doing what healthy Polys do. I don't see why you are so obsessed with live plants, I think it has more to do with how you view the tank, and not how you view the fish enjoying the tank. The only plant I have come across that my Polys actively "enjoyed" was floating plants, which they slept in.
the best polypterus tank
- Thread starter DariusAmurdarja
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Putting any fish in an enclosed system a.k.a aquarium is animal cruelty. No aquarium can substitute the enriched environment of the wild environment.
The question is who is the lesser of the two evils ?
Still want to argue ?
The question is who is the lesser of the two evils ?
Still want to argue ?
Like it ! ;D
After much clean up, I do see some value in this thread, however, it's up to the members to keep it open on how mature everyone acts here. The Poly Peeps are pretty mellow, friendly, knowledgeable, and most importantly...HELPFUL.
You come off by insulting the forum as a whole and you expected that people were going to take your advice with open arms?
Everyone has their idea of how to keep Polys the best way they can. You have an issue with that, as you think that your way is the best and only way. That won't cut it. I can tell you that I don't keep plants with my Polys due to the plants always being uprooted and the fact that my Polys hate my lights when I turn them on. So no plants and no added lights. And I'm not going to change my ideas/decor around until I see fit. Does that make me a bad fish keeper? Maybe to some, but do I care? Not particularly. After all...my fish, my tank, my way, but "my way" always changes as I learn.
You say that you don't want to talk about your work with these creatures while most people here have no problem talking about how they discovered this or using them for that. I can only imagine what your company is really doing with these fish. Monsanto is definitely not known for keeping their animals in proper conditions or having them live out the rest of their lives comfortably.
3 things to know...
1. If you want to share your knowledge with people, by all means, we're all ears..err...eyes.
2. If you think you're too good for people here, don't let the door hit you on the way out.
3. You want to bash and talk trash, then you won't last very long here.
Well you may have brought your best intentions to this forum, you unfortunately forgot to bring a brain with you.
You claim that people here keep their polys unethically while your own tank is very substandard. Not only is it too small, but you have sharp rocks that most beginner poly keepers know better than to keep in their tanks.
You also want a ban on collecting wild caught polys, while your company actively collects wild polys, and you own one of their offspring.
You work for a company that has a long track record of environmental destruction, something you are now guilty of as you help them to achieve their dishonorable ends. You also profit from this destruction, marking you as rather evil to boot. At least we keep polys for our love of them, not for any profit at their destruction.
You're also quite confused about wild collection versus farming, thinking that farming is the better option, which it isn't. Many fish species today exist only in captivity, since companies like the one you work for destroyed their native habitats while us unethical fishkeepers have rallied to make sure they are bred in captivity to continue the species. And ask anyone in Florida about the harmlessness of farming tropicals since you can now catch many non native fish in their rivers that have escaped from farms. That doesn't happen with sustainable wild collection, as is mostly practiced. Project Piaba would be a good spot for you to some actual research before spouting off your uneducated nonsense. Many river systems are still producing sustainable populations of fish for the aquarium trade because the locals can make a good living from it instead of destroying the river through clear cutting and farming. Something else your company would prefer that they do so they could make more money.
You need to get your head out of your nether regions and wake up to the hypocritical stuff you're spewing. You're probably the worst offender here for endangering these fish. You're also talking down to a lot of people who not only have been keeping these fish longer than you have been alive, but also to the majority of the poly keepers here that have FAR more experience and knowledge about keeping them than you ever will.
You claim that people here keep their polys unethically while your own tank is very substandard. Not only is it too small, but you have sharp rocks that most beginner poly keepers know better than to keep in their tanks.
You also want a ban on collecting wild caught polys, while your company actively collects wild polys, and you own one of their offspring.
You work for a company that has a long track record of environmental destruction, something you are now guilty of as you help them to achieve their dishonorable ends. You also profit from this destruction, marking you as rather evil to boot. At least we keep polys for our love of them, not for any profit at their destruction.
You're also quite confused about wild collection versus farming, thinking that farming is the better option, which it isn't. Many fish species today exist only in captivity, since companies like the one you work for destroyed their native habitats while us unethical fishkeepers have rallied to make sure they are bred in captivity to continue the species. And ask anyone in Florida about the harmlessness of farming tropicals since you can now catch many non native fish in their rivers that have escaped from farms. That doesn't happen with sustainable wild collection, as is mostly practiced. Project Piaba would be a good spot for you to some actual research before spouting off your uneducated nonsense. Many river systems are still producing sustainable populations of fish for the aquarium trade because the locals can make a good living from it instead of destroying the river through clear cutting and farming. Something else your company would prefer that they do so they could make more money.
You need to get your head out of your nether regions and wake up to the hypocritical stuff you're spewing. You're probably the worst offender here for endangering these fish. You're also talking down to a lot of people who not only have been keeping these fish longer than you have been alive, but also to the majority of the poly keepers here that have FAR more experience and knowledge about keeping them than you ever will.
I said a million times now, that i don´t want argue...
I see it from a scientific point of view. I´m interested into paleogenetics. Thats my main subject. I´m not interested in
pond building and stupid argumentations about driftwood and plants. I said my opinion and i stand for it. I won´t change it.
You think otherwise? Fine, but learn to accept my opinion as well.
I see it from a scientific point of view. I´m interested into paleogenetics. Thats my main subject. I´m not interested in
pond building and stupid argumentations about driftwood and plants. I said my opinion and i stand for it. I won´t change it.
You think otherwise? Fine, but learn to accept my opinion as well.
ALSO, JamesF, have you participated in any of the project piaba volunteer trips to Brazil? I ask because I was looking at doing one next year and I wanted some first hand accounts of peoples experiences on the trip.
Once they're older though. 
Darius, I have a thing or two to say to you because you insulted me for the polypterus keeper I am.
I have kept polypterus for a few years, I used to have a bigger collection but now I have two. A 10" Endlicheri and a 6" Senegalus.
I do the same things as other professional fishkeepers, I change the water twice a week, feed them the right food in the right amount etc.
When I had the most polypterus they were around 10 of them in my 125g tank, ranging from 6"-12". I sometimes have plants in my tank,
but they always die after a couple months because I don't have good enough lights in my tank for plants. But when I had plants with my polypterus
they really didn't do anything with them, they didn't hide in them or anything like that. So your argument about polypterus NEEDING plants is invalid.
I usually have a couple of hiding places for my fish, but the purpose of them is mainly my cichlids. When I had more polypterus they almost never
used them. They just piled up somewhere in the tank. Now when I only have two, my Endlicheri is usually in one of the hiding places (under the internal filter),
except for feeding time. This I do not like about him, because I don't see him much. And it wouldn't hurt him in any ways to have no hiding places.
I think you don't understand that the fish can adapt the environment you provide them it if is good (clean water etc.) and live happily in that environment.
I do not underestimate your "by the book" knowledge on Polypterids, but experience says more.
I really don't like your attitude towards other members here, and your reaction to me will probably be the same as to the others.
MFK offers you help and knowledge from many of the most experienced fishkeepers in the world. It also offers you friendship of people who have
the same hobby as you. I have some friends on here which I have never met in person, but it's great to talk to someone who has the same hobby
as you do.
The polypterus keepers on MFK are very mellow and we can usually discuss things from different points of view calmly and with understanding.
I would expect you to do the same.
And one more thing. DO NOT call people animal abusers if they aren't. It is a very serious matter in my opinion.
I have kept polypterus for a few years, I used to have a bigger collection but now I have two. A 10" Endlicheri and a 6" Senegalus.
I do the same things as other professional fishkeepers, I change the water twice a week, feed them the right food in the right amount etc.
When I had the most polypterus they were around 10 of them in my 125g tank, ranging from 6"-12". I sometimes have plants in my tank,
but they always die after a couple months because I don't have good enough lights in my tank for plants. But when I had plants with my polypterus
they really didn't do anything with them, they didn't hide in them or anything like that. So your argument about polypterus NEEDING plants is invalid.
I usually have a couple of hiding places for my fish, but the purpose of them is mainly my cichlids. When I had more polypterus they almost never
used them. They just piled up somewhere in the tank. Now when I only have two, my Endlicheri is usually in one of the hiding places (under the internal filter),
except for feeding time. This I do not like about him, because I don't see him much. And it wouldn't hurt him in any ways to have no hiding places.
I think you don't understand that the fish can adapt the environment you provide them it if is good (clean water etc.) and live happily in that environment.
I do not underestimate your "by the book" knowledge on Polypterids, but experience says more.
I really don't like your attitude towards other members here, and your reaction to me will probably be the same as to the others.
MFK offers you help and knowledge from many of the most experienced fishkeepers in the world. It also offers you friendship of people who have
the same hobby as you. I have some friends on here which I have never met in person, but it's great to talk to someone who has the same hobby
as you do.
The polypterus keepers on MFK are very mellow and we can usually discuss things from different points of view calmly and with understanding.
I would expect you to do the same.
And one more thing. DO NOT call people animal abusers if they aren't. It is a very serious matter in my opinion.
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