Worried about bichir aggression

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mirs

Exodon
MFK Member
Jan 16, 2018
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So, I've gotten myself into a bit of a predicament. I'm sorry, I'm new here so I'm not sure if this is the right thread for this topic but I have an urgent question.

About 2 weeks ago I got a polypterus senegalus (2") and polypterus palmas (3") from my LFS. I've been housing them in a 20 gallon long grow-out tank until I move in June to a house that has room for my 75 gallon. I decided I wanted to get one more juvenile to grow-out with the others and ordered a delhezi from the store which I was told would be $36 and 3". When I arrived at the store after they notified me of its delivery, I found it on the top shelf (I'm short so I could barely see it) where it was priced at $65. I thought this was weird but I really wanted it so I was willing to spend the extra money, however, I didn't watch them net it and after they put it in a plastic bag, they put him in a paper bag so I didn't actually see him up close until I got home.

To get to my point, I didn't realize until after acclimating him just how colossal he was compared to my other two fish: he's about 6". I placed him into my tank to see how the other fish would do but they were immediately stressed out and after a few very tense encounters between the fish that I had to intervene in, I decided to move the smaller two to a 15 gallon with my backup heater running.

My question is, if I call my LFS tomorrow, would it be possible to return this fish? I know I should have been more attentive but I'm worried about my little fish suffering in the tote and the big guy suffering in such a small tank... I'd move him to my bigger one if I could but my floors are literally made of plywood and I don't think they could even support 750 pounds of water in that concentrated of an area...
 
Well why not get a big plastic tote from Walmart and place a divider in there till the other polys get bigger? Just giving an option as there’s time till getting a larger tank.

The store should take the fish back. Most would take it back. What’s the return policy?
 
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kno4te said:
Well why not get a big plastic tote from Walmart and place a divider in there till the other polys get bigger? Just giving an option as there’s time till getting a larger tank.

The store should take the fish back. Most would take it back. What’s the return policy?
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Thank you for getting back so quickly! That's not a bad idea actually. Do you have any recommendations for the type of filter I could use for that kind of setup? Not sure about the return policy of the store though, it's a little family-owned shop so I'm worried they might turn me down (not that I blame them when Walmart and chain pet stores are taking their business)
 
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I would get a cheap Walmart filter and heater. Make sure to do daily water changes and keep feedings under control. Get a lid it will jump and make sure it’s secured.

I have two tubs now with chaca chaca and a gymnotus knife in tannin water. I just do a full bucket water change every other day. Fish do fine.
 
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kno4te said:
I would get a cheap Walmart filter and heater. Make sure to do daily water changes and keep feedings under control. Get a lid it will jump and make sure it’s secured.

I have two tubs now with chaca chaca and a gymnotus knife in tannin water. I just do a full bucket water change every other day. Fish do fine.
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That's a relief to hear! Honestly I'm neurotic so I do a full bucket water change every day anyway haha. I was stressing out so much about what I was going to do with these guys, so I'm glad to have a backup plan if the store can't help me. Thank you again, I feel a lot better about this situation now!
 
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the other thing you can do is once the tote is cycled feed the sen and palmas(it is probably a polli) shredded tilapia you can buy frozen fillets for super cheap at walmart and put it through a cheap food processor. Put some in with the sen and palmas let them eat on it and after they have their fill remove the excess. Do this daily and in no time they will be big enough to cohabitate. I'd also put the sen and palmas in the 20 gallon that way the delhezi doesn't establish a territory that he will defend when the others are added
 
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thefredpit said:
the other thing you can do is once the tote is cycled feed the sen and palmas(it is probably a polli) shredded tilapia you can buy frozen fillets for super cheap at walmart and put it through a cheap food processor. Put some in with the sen and palmas let them eat on it and after they have their fill remove the excess. Do this daily and in no time they will be big enough to cohabitate. I'd also put the sen and palmas in the 20 gallon that way the delhezi doesn't establish a territory that he will defend when the others are added
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Yeah it didn't specify but judging by the markings I would gander it's a polli as well. I need to buy tilapia from the store but they've been munching on bloodworms and shrimp since I got them, now I'll definitely have to bulk them up though! Just to clarify, you mean keep the sen and palmas in 20 gallon instead and keep the del in the tote?

Ironically, I would have had to do all of this to begin with if I had done a proper quarantine... Lesson learned lol
 
mirs said:
Yeah it didn't specify but judging by the markings I would gander it's a polli as well. I need to buy tilapia from the store but they've been munching on bloodworms and shrimp since I got them, now I'll definitely have to bulk them up though! Just to clarify, you mean keep the sen and palmas in 20 gallon instead and keep the del in the tote?

Ironically, I would have had to do all of this to begin with if I had done a proper quarantine... Lesson learned lol
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yes keep the palmas and sen in the 20 since that is the tank you plan to grow them out in. That way the bigger bichir won't have an established territory when they are put together
 
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thefredpit said:
yes keep the palmas and sen in the 20 since that is the tank you plan to grow them out in. That way the bigger bichir won't have an established territory when they are put together
Click to expand...
Just making sure I understood you correctly- I hadn't thought of that, thank you for the tip!
 
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