senegal bichir tank setup

[radrats]

do you know of anyone that setup a tank for senegal bichirs like a turtle tank setup. where they can climb on to a platform that seats out of the water.I'd like to get some picture of a setup like that my husband is thinking of that kind of setup for the senegal bichirs he has. :idea:

 

[is300zx]

that kind of a set up is not really beneficial for bichirs as far as i know. bichirs won't climb out and just sit on the platform like turtles would. they would dry out and die if they did.

 

[beblondie]

Well he could set it up like that but it wold be a waste.Bichirs don't climbout of the water for grins and giggles.
Tank set up
Bichirs are low light loving fish as many are nocturnal and some dinural . The tank
needs a secure top or lid with any opening plugged as some species are escape
artists and others can jump well.The water level needs to be 2-3 inches below normal
as bichirs need to breathe air from time to time. The substrate should be sand or finely
crushed gravel. driftwood with short bushy plants.attached or anchored under it.
In general I find it hard to have live plants as bichirs tend to uproot them searching
for food, floating plants are a good option though ,I silicone silk plants to nylon needlepoint
canvas and bury it in the substrate in one square foot sections makes it easier to
remove to clean and rebury in the substrate. One last point no sharp edges
bichirs tend to move close to things and sharp edges remove slimecoat

 

[IceH2O]

In general I find it hard to have live plants as bichirs tend to uproot them searching
for food

I disagree..My tank is fully planted with 2 Birchirs and is doing great. I might agree that if you have a bunch of Birchirs it wouldn't work though.

 

[beblondie]

Then mine are clutzes lol they uprooted everything except what was tied down -Anne

 

[cohazard]

The water level needs to be 2-3 inches below normal

Hi beblondie, I recognize you from the aquatic predators board... you're basically the resident bichir expert over there, so welcome to AC! (sorry if you've been here a while, I haven't been on these boards for a while).

Anyways, just wanted to share my experience; I currently have five 6-7" juvenile bichirs (2 albino senegalus (1m, 1f), 1 ornate, 1 delhezi, and a reed fish) in a 180g tank. Yes they do need to swim 2' to get air from the tank surface, but they don't seem bothered by it (they swim pretty fast as you know).

As a matter of fact mine have grown acustomed to the deeper tank and when they see me near the tank, they all (except the ornate) swim to the top and hover, waiting for grub. The ornate isn't really shy since he doesn't hide from me when he's at the bottom of the tank searching out food, but he doesn't like swimming around as much as the others do.

Now for very small bichirs (i.e. the most common size to find senegalus babies for sale) I don't think a 2' deep tank would be the best idea, but 2-3 inches below normal isn't really a big difference from what the normal water level of any of my tanks are at. All that would do is make the filter splash louder

So I guess I"m just curious why you recommend 2-3 inches specifically?

 

[Toirtis]

So I guess I"m just curious why you recommend 2-3 inches specifically?

Its to ensure sufficient airspace to permit decent breaching area.

Mature Senegals are just fine in a 2' deep tank, but juveniles should be raised in a much more shallow (no more than 14") environment.

By the by, you will likely have to do some specimen rearranging when that ornate exceeds 20"....I have not done any experiments in this area, but I suspect my 24" and 27" ornates would not turn down a 10" Senegal as a potential meal.

 

[beblondie]

Thanks G.A. guess that answered that back topacking for the move -Anne