Bichirs!

[Zeiphex]

So, was fiddling around taking random pictures of the tank, and managed to get some nice ones of the bichirs <3 Take a peek!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/407777_3216988586970_1334010117_33269106_175411880 2_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/402671_3217016107658_1334010117_33269121_690631745 _n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/401002_3217033908103_1334010117_33269136_127767810 2_n.jpg

[TomK]

Beautiful photography, but not my cup of tea!

[oscar freak]

awesome looking fish to scary for me but lol

[SalmonAfrica]

Lovely pics and fish mate! :D About what size are they? Ropefish included!

[mydummyname]

beautiful fish, and i'm so glad you got 3 instead of 2.

1 birchir is cool, but 3 go together better than 2 to curb aggression.

lost any of your smaller fish yet? these guys are very enthusiastic night hunters!

[Zeiphex]

TomK; oscar freak - Hehe, I love them :3 I've always loved oddballs. I find them insanely cute!
SalmonAfrica - thank you :) The Senegal's Bichirs (I have 2) are about 23cm, and the Saddled Bichir is 13 or 14cm. Ropefish in the picture is about 17cm, but I have a much larger one as well, maybe 25cm.

[Zeiphex]

mydummyname - I've never noticed any aggression between them, in fact they seem happiest lying all over each other. Maybe I just have oddballs. And yes, I lost a skunk loach to one of the bigger guys.

[mydummyname]

awesome looking fish to scary for me but lol

dude whenever you buy one of these fish, the shop assistants freak out! they think these are some kind of water snake lol

but really, they are not even aggressive except mildly toward each other, but if you have them in the correct numbers, they tend to be very very passive, as Zeiphex has mentioned. so you either have one or more than 3.

they have fantastic personalities, and once they get to know you, they will come out to you when you approach the tank :) as i'm sure Zeiphex can confirm :)

[Vicha]

Hi there,

New to this site... got given a saddled / delhezi bichir this weekend because it was sick at the pet store. Poor thing lies on its back, side most of the time and looks awfully depressed or starved... 1316013161

Anyone ever seen this kind of behaviour before. After spending a day searching on the internet for help the most likely answers are that it could be a genetic / parasite / swimbladder problem.

Ciou

[Zeiphex]

mydummyname - I had to explain to our domestic worker that the reedfish is a fish, not a snake ^_^ She is terrified of snakes. Haven't noticed mine come out if I approach the tank yet :< They normally just do their own thing, oblivious to what I do.

[Zeiphex]

Vicha - shame, that poor little guy really doesn't look good :< To me it looks like it could be one of many causes including what you mentioned. Doesn't look like he will survive. Does he eat? I can't imagine so...

[mydummyname]

Zeiphex give them time ;) they'll warm up to you yet!

[mydummyname]

@Vicha (http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/member.php?u=2539)

it doesnt sound or look very good, he doesnt look like he's been bullied or anything like that, as all of his fins are in one piece and there's no fin seperation, its possible he was underfed or not fed at all and perhaps he was in water that was close to toxic.

the best advice i can give you is to make sure his water is of the best quality for the next week or so.. that means 10% water changes every day for a week, feed a little bit every day, remove any food that he doesnt consume by the next morning (you will want to feed him at night, after lights out as they are nocturnal- try a small amount of blood worm, he'll be too weak to hunt for live prey) and keep the lights low until he recovers.

you need to start doing the water changes as soon as possible. this is your best bet, but even then, it might be too late for the poor dude..

[Zeiphex]

I really hope he recovers - they are such great fish! They can live for more than 40 years too!

[isadore]

Nice bichirs n ropefish..do u know where I can get one around pretoria?

[Rookie]

Zeiphex - stunning... I have one (common variety) but would love to get more yet only see the that one at shops... if you know where I can get any please let me know.

[Reedfish]

Only seen this thread now

@Zelphex very nice fish. How are they doing?

Vicha, how is your fish doing? Did it recover?

[Vicha]

We where given this one but I am sure the pet stores can order them. Our Delhezi is recovering quite well, so far rock salt bathing has cleared up whatever infection she had and she can swim normally. She is eating well and become quite active in the tank. I dont think she is 100% cured yet as once she has gone up to gulp air, her swim bladder seems to throw her off balance and she floats weirdly. Her name is Scala and she is much loved! Hopefully that has also helped her recovery! Thanks all

[SalmonAfrica]

I wouldn't worry about the gulping behaviour - all bichirs do this from time to time.