only time i had an ornate was when my del was 4" and i got a 4" ornate... they were in a 45g growout and the ornate started trying to munch on the del within 2 days and was tearin his fins up pretty bad, he had to go. i may have just got unlucky though, good luck
Which poly?
- Thread starter Kaiden
- Start date
I've got a 8-9 inches Ornate right now (he came to me around 4-5 inches) sharing space with two adult senegals, and some other fish. He's never tried to munch on a single tank mate. He's never tried to attack anything other than a worm or a shrimp. He will defend his half log against the two bichirs but...he doesn't even have to do that beyond the first 2-3 times. The two adults know that that particular hole is taken. So they just go to another one if they want to hide.
That's my experience. I can understand that the OP wants a smaller bichir. Good look and keep up informed OP. :3
Thanks to both of you! 
I still have much to learn about this awesome species so I appreciate all the inputs. I've been doing a lot of reading in this forum and others but of course, nothing beats hearing the experiences of former/current poly owners. I understand that they have individual traits so some may be mean while others are more laid back. The size of the Ornate is another thing that makes me lean more towards a Palmas species. 12-14" is the ideal size I'm looking for since I only have a 150 gallon tank. The only fish that I'm expecting (hoping) to reach 18"+ is my BGK.
Right now, I'm just really torn between the Palmas and the Buettikoferi. They both look so much alike and I guess maybe they also act alike? Someone correct me if I'm wrong but a Palmas' pattern is darker/bolder and it's more spread apart. On the other hand, a Buettikoferi has a lighter/faded but more compressed pattern? Do they both grow about the same size?
Now about the sellers....I'm not sure if it's normal but it seems a little harder to reach Toyin through email than Jeff. It's been a week since I emailed him about shipping rates but he hasn't replied back. Have you guys bought any fish from either of them?
I still have much to learn about this awesome species so I appreciate all the inputs. I've been doing a lot of reading in this forum and others but of course, nothing beats hearing the experiences of former/current poly owners. I understand that they have individual traits so some may be mean while others are more laid back. The size of the Ornate is another thing that makes me lean more towards a Palmas species. 12-14" is the ideal size I'm looking for since I only have a 150 gallon tank. The only fish that I'm expecting (hoping) to reach 18"+ is my BGK.
Right now, I'm just really torn between the Palmas and the Buettikoferi. They both look so much alike and I guess maybe they also act alike? Someone correct me if I'm wrong but a Palmas' pattern is darker/bolder and it's more spread apart. On the other hand, a Buettikoferi has a lighter/faded but more compressed pattern? Do they both grow about the same size?
Now about the sellers....I'm not sure if it's normal but it seems a little harder to reach Toyin through email than Jeff. It's been a week since I emailed him about shipping rates but he hasn't replied back. Have you guys bought any fish from either of them?
like i said, i probably just got really unlucky - just sharing an experience - i have emailed toyin about rates before and sometimes it does take a little while for him to get back with you
Really it seems like what it will come to down to is which of those two you can get. I've never ordered fish from people online so unfortunately I cannot help you there. Go with what you can get and with whom ever contacts you back first.
I'll give Toyin until the end of the week to reply back. If he doesn't, I'll order from Jeff.
I'll post pics once I get my very first poly.
I'll post pics once I get my very first poly.
Just wanted a confirmation about the sizes of the two Polys I'm looking to get. I saw somewhere in this board that a Buettikoferi can get up to 17" and a Palmas up to 14". But on the sticky thread, it stated that both of them are around 13".
Which is the more accurate one? I'm referring to max size it can get.
Which is the more accurate one? I'm referring to max size it can get.
