BigBossPants Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Hi guys, I just bought a 6" Ornate Bichir ($65 - Woo Hoo!) yesterday and I'm a little concerned about him. He's very pale, not at all like the ones we get at work (pet store). His fins are normal but his body is pasty looking, he doesn't have the defined markings I expected. The guy at the shop said he was just eating flakes (shock, horror!). The tank he was in looked a little suspect too, low water quality maybe? My tank is 240L (4 foot), has a sand bottom and some live plants. I gave him some half-bowls to hide in but he seems to prefer to sit in the plants and under the filter. The lighting is a regular fluro bulb, about 90cm long so tank is darker in the corners. So far he has eaten an earthworm and 3 small neon tetras (he shares his tank with about 9 assorted tetras, they were all meant to be feeders but have evaded him so far). I offered him some mussel today and he snapped at it but spat it out and didn't go back to it. The little fish liked it though haha. He gets 'Tetra' tropical flakes left over from the little fish too, but I know this isn't suitable. He seems to be eating the sand, or putting it in his mouth and spitting it out through his gills, WHY?! Is it likely that he'll become darker with a good, varied diet and better water? How much/often should he be fed? I'm going to invest in some assorted frozen food in the next couple of days... Also, what kind of lighting can I use so I can watch him at night? I was thinking of red or blue LED's so I can light the tank but he'll still think it's night... Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Reading your above post id say your just nervous about your new fish and over reacting. Fish of the same species can have different colorations, bichirs in my tank are. Blue led's at night should be fine My female bichir eats sand.....just like your one. Dont know why lol Try beef heart and shrimp. Cut the white fat(?) off the beef heart and freeze it. I a 30cm cube cut into bits to my 2 large bichirs every day or a few medium shrimp cut up. It may take a bit of time to change foods Just keep a eye on it and it should be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBossPants Posted April 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Thanks for that HaNs, yeah I am a bit paranoid about him lol he's my baby. Did you mean 30mm (3cm)? What sort of flow rate do you use for yours? I have a 500L/H internal filter at the moment, I think it's a bit much, tetras don't like it lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Thanks for that HaNs, yeah I am a bit paranoid about him lol he's my baby. Did you mean 30mm (3cm)? What sort of flow rate do you use for yours? I have a 500L/H internal filter at the moment, I think it's a bit much, tetras don't like it lol 30mm lol. So tired! 800lph filter and a small pump thats doing 600lph ish at the top of the tank to get water movement. Tanks 220L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Bichirs do sometimes eat substrate, which is why its not recommended to keep them on gravel. Ornates can vary in colour, and substrate can also have an effect on colour, try a dark red, dark grey or black substrate for bolder colour. My two smaller ones varied quite a bit, especially when kept in a bare bottom tank, they're a bit more even now they're on dark substrate again. Try feeding it Hikari sinking carnivore pellets, and shrimp. I've gone off beef heart as it is apparently hard for fish to digest, and I found my ornate was getting fussy and wouldn't eat anything else. He's back on shrimp now. While we're on the subject of ornates, here's a pic I snapped last night, he didn't really feel like posing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBossPants Posted April 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Wow your ornates are gorgeous, how big is that larger one? Mine is very similar to the lighter one in your pic, I'll try the darker substrate thanks He didn't want to eat last night either, I had given him mussel again. Going to the shop to get some shrimp and stuff today so hopefully I can entice him Will post a pic of him shortly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBossPants Posted April 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Meet Belial! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 14 inches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 how big is that larger one? Tank is 20" wide (external), total length is around 14" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBossPants Posted April 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Wow he's a big-un! Can't wait for Belial to get that size! Gave him more mussel tonight, with the light off. Left all the bits in it this time so we'll see how that goes... ANZAC day meant I didn't get paid so no meat for him grrrrr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 I was getting worried about mine not eating...not losing weight but got concerned, so I moved him to a 3' tank on his own. from the amount of poo in there I neednt have worried. Im going to teach him to hand feed before I put him back in with my cichlids, that way I can be sure he's getting some good food not just left overs. Mine is a little paler in the middle of his body too, but he/shes still purty, and substrate colour makes him change a little I've noticed too. Good luck with Belial :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBossPants Posted April 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Good to know people have had similar issues, I thought about training him to hand feed too but the idea of being bitten once he's big puts me off a bit He now shares his tank with a big Jack Dempsey. Went back to the fish shop and he was there in a dark tank (where he had been for 2 weeks apparently), so I took him home. He's harassing the feeders and eating the sand, but so far has left Belial alone. Made a neat rock cave for him to hide in so he should be ok Also got beef heart, trevalli fillet and cichlid pellets for them today, will see how he likes them :D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beblondie Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 ''I thought about training him to hand feed too but the idea of being bitten once he's big puts me off a bit '' its more of a suprise, bichirs actually have a very weak bite force think of it being a good pinch. Your local market can be a great source of foods check the seafood section of the freezer You can use just about any foods you find there including mussels shrimp most fish filets (avoid salmon i think its to oily) Available at the butcher counter or they should be able to order it for you beefheart and yes chicken gizzards to prepare the above cut it into strips and remove any fat you can find fish do not digest mammialian fat well-Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Davids one is a BEAST! Didnt even know beblondie was on here Need to train Palmas' to hand feed one day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBossPants Posted April 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Oh ok, might have a crack at it then especially with ol' Jack in there, he looks like he'll be a food stealer. Thanks for all the advice everyone!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beblondie Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 ''Didnt even know beblondie was on here'' Just spreading bichir goodness worldwide lol-Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 ''Didnt even know beblondie was on here'' Just spreading bichir goodness worldwide lol-Anne Use the "Quote" button lol Spread the goodness and make my palmas' spawn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 I remember seeing a guy who kept polypterus with cichlids and he had trained the polys to feed inside a piece of pvc pipe that was too small for the cichlids to get into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beblondie Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 theres the old soda bottle trick to feed reedfish too Hans watch for the female to look gravid she'll look slightly swollen in front of her anal fin.Then do a large water change with slightly cooler water-Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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