Silvia-15 Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 i just got my hands on 2 small ornates, from HWF... damn they sure are expensive for something so midget... for now anyways well, can anyone tell me how fast they grow? i have a section of my 300L tank separated for these 2 5cm bichirs... otherwise theyll get molested by the oscar and the big senegalus. so unless they can get to a decent size quickly, i may have to invest in ANOTHER tank... thanks for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... .php?f=108 Have a read of the Polypterus Introduction and Primer there, loads of useful info. Depending on the dimensions, the 300L tank will be OK for a few years. Their growth can vary, one person on MFK had one that went from 3" to 11" in six months!! Plan for about 10-12" in the first year, a slower after that. IMO keeping them in smaller tanks is going to lead to them feeling more confined and will increase the chance of them trying to get out. Another thing to consider is that you may be better of with more [or less]. Two is often a bad number for big fish (think dats, arowanas etc) as one becomes dominant and the other gets picked on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia-15 Posted August 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 well, once they get to a decent size, im going to move one of them (the less pretty one) to my mothers house where i have a 600L tank with an arowana, 2 oscars, and a large pleco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Sounds like a good idea. What are the dimentions of your 300L tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 With as much food as he'll eat and weekly water changes mine has grown nearly 2" in the past 5 to 6 weeks He's starting to pack on some bulk now as well, looking less like a skinny worm and more like the chunky Bichir he's suppoed to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia-15 Posted August 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 the 300L tank is 120W x 67H x 50D cm. im feeding mine frozen bloodworms, is that fine? or would i need other stuff as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 Definitley need other stuff too, not to mention bloodworms will be expensive [and messy!] when it gets big. Mine get discus tucker, chopped beef heart, prawn, hikari carnivore pellets and shrimp pellets. Get them used to a varied diet when they're young, and don't let them get fussy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia-15 Posted August 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 oh yeah, and i noticed one of them has a snapped dorsal spike, would it grow back? or would it be like a war wound or something later... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AROWANA Posted October 28, 2007 Report Share Posted October 28, 2007 They grow to about 60cm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted October 28, 2007 Report Share Posted October 28, 2007 what did you pay for them,cheers ant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia-15 Posted October 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2007 i got 2 of mine at hff albany $130 but after nagging the dude there, i got it for 100, i got the other one at origins browns bay for 90 dollar-ish, and i was in hff mt roskill last week, they are doing a special and it was only 80 something dollars!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 I just saw my first one in the flesh...oh god i want it I am setting up a 5' tank atm too...damnit here are too many cool fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 feed it prawns and beef heart chunky ones that no one else can swallow only they can i guaratnee you you will se 1 to 2 cms per month! for the first year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 when i get my 8 foot goin im gonna set up a small dat and polypterus tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 :bounce: Its done :bounce: I went back to work and read the forums etc and that was the end for me. I now have a 3-4" ornate birchir living in my 3' community tank until he grows enough to tough it out in my cichlid tank and at $80 it looks like I wasnt ripped off too much he just had his first feed of earth worm and seems happy as a dinosaur can be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 and at $80 it looks like I wasnt ripped off too much Definitely not, I paid $130 each for the first three small ones HFF got in about 5-6 months ago. They're great fish, just keep an eye on the smaller fish in your community, young ornates grow pretty fast and have big mouths and even bigger stomachs.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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