I have my little 4" albino bichir in a 10G grow out tank and he stays on the bottom. When I put him in my 125 he stays at the top of the tank. Any explanations to this? I want to eventually put him in the 125 but when he swims around my aro gets excited and goes after him.
Top or bottom of tank, why can't my bichir make up his mind?
- Thread starter SuPraScOObY
- Start date
He's just displaying normal survival behavior. Does your 10gal have other fish besides the poly? Your 125 has 2 gobies and a large pleco occupying the bottom. Instinct is telling the bichir that there are less potential predators away from the bottom.
I want to eventually put him in the 125 but when he swims around my aro gets excited and goes after him.
kind of rules out puttung the bichir in the 125 unless you're feeding the arrow.The albino should max out at 8-10inches the arrow at 20 inches +(this is not a good combo)
Now as to why he stays at the surface in the 125 its closer to the surface for breathing,food goes there first then drifts down and odds are its slightly warmer at the top of the 125 than the bottom and what he said up there right on top of me yeah him that guy there lol
kind of rules out puttung the bichir in the 125 unless you're feeding the arrow.The albino should max out at 8-10inches the arrow at 20 inches +(this is not a good combo)
Now as to why he stays at the surface in the 125 its closer to the surface for breathing,food goes there first then drifts down and odds are its slightly warmer at the top of the 125 than the bottom and what he said up there right on top of me yeah him that guy there lol
agree. also do you have floating plants and stuff on the surface? if so, its using them as its hiding/resting spot. if not, it could be what was already said, or stress related.
anyway i also agree with beblondie that ultimately it may not be the best combo. even now though, the bichir is 4" and the aro is 12", right? personally i think thats a bit risky, esp. since the aro will grow quite a bit faster than the bichir.
anyway i also agree with beblondie that ultimately it may not be the best combo. even now though, the bichir is 4" and the aro is 12", right? personally i think thats a bit risky, esp. since the aro will grow quite a bit faster than the bichir.
the poly deffinately seems to be to small, aro's are very aggresive predators and the size difference is way to great. to be safe i would move the poly.
My (4in at the time) senegal actually did the same thing when I moved him from his 12 gal grow-out to his 55, and after about a week he stayed on the bottom, so I would give him a little time to get used to the tank. Now for the arro, I would watch out cause I know I wouldn't want my poly to be a feeder...
i also have small albinos in a 10 gal, not sure about the aro but, when the fish comes of age to move to the big tank I've found setting up something at the top, surface plants and those "reptile suction cup levels" (not sure what to call them) lets some live near the top, they like to sit out of the water and they can hide out there when stressed, plus easier to feed directly making sure they eat lots, then eventually they find a place at the bottom. once they hit the bigger tank they tend to catch up better.