You guys are really convinving me into polypterus >.<

[Hendre]

Seeing all these polypterus on here is making me jelly, and being a fan of oddball fish i feel the urge to buy one seeing how beastly and prehistoric they look

Now being December and my summer holiday off school, i have decided that i would probably like to purchase a bichir to get started with some of the best fish ever and continue with the ancient fish

There are just a few things im unsure on with sizes and tank mates etc.
The tank is a 48" x 18" x 18", standard 70 gal i believe? the bichirs that i have seen to be suibtable and staying under 12" are the P. Delhezi and the 3(?) palmas subspecies. I especially love the Delhezi.

Also for tankmates, i have heard they are not too bothersome in general, and i am trying to provide plenty of hiding spaces for the fish, here is a pic of the tank right now:


Should i try and provide some hiding space at the back corner like now? add more wood or keep a certain area open for swimming? im not quite sure what format or layout bichirs like.

And lastly with tankmates, im more worried about the bottom dwellers at this point, the current stock is:
1 Pink tail chalceus (3.5-4")
2 African knifefish (4" and 5.5")
1 Featherfin Syno (3.5")

there is also an African butterfly fish and Salvini cichlid (both 2") in growout currently that are destined for the big tank, i could grow out or monitor a small bichir here if needs be. Would any issues potentially arise with this stock?


Okay guys, thats all i can think of, i want to go in prepared if i take the plunge.

Any info is appreciated, thanks guys

 

[kno4te]

Delhezi and palmas sp will be fine in there. But will keep 2-3 at the most.

Tankmates will be fine. No need to change the decor.

Salvini cichlid can be aggressive and that's the only worry there.

 

[kno4te]

Sitting on the gold mine of Polypterus and you can't even touch them! That's temptation.

 

[Hendre]

Delhezi and palmas sp will be fine in there. But will keep 2-3 at the most.

Tankmates will be fine. No need to change the decor.

Salvini cichlid can be aggressive and that's the only worry there.

I would only keep one

the salvini is a little psychopath. seperated him since he was trying to kill the danios not 5 minutes ago

Sitting on the gold mine of Polypterus and you can't even touch them! That's temptation.

I have only seen a single senegal for sale, but i can likely get the others. I can't house the bigger ones unfortunately

 

[Polyaddict86]

Delhezi,palmas palmas and a moke or retro will be nice.

 

[Hendre]

Delhezi,palmas palmas and a moke or retro will be nice.

Do moke or retropinnis stay around 12" max? I don't want to cramp or have to pass on a bichir

 

[Polyaddict86]

They do,maybe 14" but rarely see a 14" one. Ive seen a wc del that is 16"

 

[Hendre]

They do,maybe 14" but rarely see a 14" one. Ive seen a wc del that is 16"

Ah okay. I love the moke quite a lot. Will also be looking out for them

I would prefer captive bred if possible, but i think only certain species are available CB right?

 

[Polyaddict86]

Ah okay. I love the moke quite a lot. Will also be looking out for them

I would prefer captive bred if possible, but i think only certain species are available CB right?

I believed that all palmas sp. are all wc, same for retro and moke, but let other people chip in cause im 100% sure. I mean just recently Burbotman bought a cb congicus that i thought all congi was wc.

 

[Hendre]

I believed that all palmas sp. are all wc, same for retro and moke, but let other people chip in cause im 100% sure. I mean just recently Burbotman bought a cb congicus that i thought all congi was wc.

Hmm. As long as i can get them onto pellets it should be good. I don't want to feed and probably can't well afford an all fish or shrimp diet, are there and negatives to WC?. Could you also possibly tag some people that could help with this, it would be awesome if i can get as much info as possible