Some of the go-to options for these fish are:
- Bloodworms
- Weather loaches
- Shrimp
- Nightcrawlers
- Ox heart
What do Bichir fish eat?
In terms of their actual diet, this is where bichir care can get a little trickier than other fish. You shouldn’t rely on pellets or flake food and instead need to give them a mix of protein-rich live, dry, and frozen foods.
Do Bichir fish need live live tank plants?
Live tank plants are desirable, but not necessary. Since bichirs is mostly a bottom-feeder, the tank bottom substrate should be easy in care and cleaning. It’s better be a thin layer of sand, though small grained gravel will do as well. But the latter is less natural like for the fish and it will be more difficult for the fish to feed from it.
How to breed Bichir fish?
A good habitat makes the fish active and healthy, which in turn activates breeding. Even if the bichir fish are very hardy, try and maintain the water temperature between 74F and 82F, the pH level between 6.2 and 7.8, and finally the water must be soft (5-20dKH).
Are Bichir fish good tank mates?
Finding compatible bichir tank mates is all about managing size and potential for aggression. As we’ve said, these fish can be aggressive and are naturally carnivores. This means that any species their size or smaller is probably not a good idea. They might get picked on or even eaten!
What do dinosaur Bichir fish eat?
Dinosaur bichir diet Bichirs need a large assortment of living, frozen, and freeze-dried food, such as bloodworms, shrimp, brine shrimp, earthworms, and other small fish. While the dinosaur bichir is a nocturnal fish species, it is possible to change when they eat.
What do Gray bichir eat?
Diet. Bichirs are nocturnal predators. They are carnivorous fish and enjoy eating small vertebrates, crustaceans, insects, and other small fishes. It is better to feed them with live food rather than pellets or artificial food.
How do you take care of a bichir?
Bichir care is also fairly straightforward. Simply keep them in the right kind of habitat, monitor the water consistently, and don't pair them with the wrong tank mates. Their neat appearance and manageable difficulty of care are why they're one of our favorite freshwater fishes.
What fish can live with a bichir?
Black Ghost Knife Fish are excellent tank mates for Bichirs despite being bottom dwellers. While predatory, Black Ghosts have smaller mouths and are rarely a threat to any fish near their size. They prefer hunting for worms and smaller fish. In terms of temperament, Black Ghost Knifefish are pretty unusual.
Do bichirs like plants?
Plants and Decorations Unlike many other large fish Bichirs are very easy on plants, substrates, and decorations. They don't dig into gravel, uproot plants, or move caves about.
What temperature does a bichir need?
They thrive in shallow waters, though much to the chagrin of dedicated aquarists, these bichirs are likely to Houdini their ways out of tanks that do not have tight fitting lids. Waters should be maintained with temperatures between 72 and 82°F, pH of 6.0 to 8.0, and hardness between 5 and 25°H.
Do bichirs lay eggs?
The female Bichir will deposit from 100 to 300 eggs during several days. She deposits several eggs each time, and the eggs are fertilized by the male when he cups his anal and caudal fins around the genital area of the female Bichir. The male takes the eggs, fertilizes them and they are then scattered over the plants.
Does bichir jump?
Bichirs are prompt to jump when in fright or when chasing each other of their own kind or kena chased by other predators. It is a MUST to cover up your tank!
How big does a bichir fish get?
Most species grow to between 30 and 60 cm (11.8 and 23.6 inches) long. Some members of the largest two species, the saddled bichirs (P. endlicherii) and Congo bichirs (P. congicus), grow to lengths of 75 cm (29.5 inches) and 97 cm (38.2 inches) and weights of 3.3 kg (7.3 pounds) and 4.4 kg (9.7 pounds), respectively.
How can you tell if a bichir is male or female?
Sexes can be told apart by looking at the anal fins. Male bichirs would have a broader anal fin than the females. However, this is only true for mature males and not the young ones. Also, males seem to have thicker dorsal spines than the females, though normally, females tend to be larger than the males.
How long do Senegal bichirs live?
Given enough time, any fish that can fit in the bichir's mouth will be eaten This fish should not be kept with any other fish smaller than three inches. It will also bite fins of other fishes if it can. P. senagalus can reach 10-15 years of age in captivity.
How big does a bichir fish get?
Most species grow to between 30 and 60 cm (11.8 and 23.6 inches) long. Some members of the largest two species, the saddled bichirs (P. endlicherii) and Congo bichirs (P. congicus), grow to lengths of 75 cm (29.5 inches) and 97 cm (38.2 inches) and weights of 3.3 kg (7.3 pounds) and 4.4 kg (9.7 pounds), respectively.
Does bichir jump?
Bichirs are prompt to jump when in fright or when chasing each other of their own kind or kena chased by other predators. It is a MUST to cover up your tank!
Can bichir live out of water?
The scientists worked with the Senegal bichir (Polypterus senegalus). Normally it swims in African rivers. But this elongated fish has both gills and lungs, so it can live on land if it has to. And that's what Emily Standen forced her bichirs to do for much of their youth.
How can you tell if a bichir is male or female?
Sexes can be told apart by looking at the anal fins. Male bichirs would have a broader anal fin than the females. However, this is only true for mature males and not the young ones. Also, males seem to have thicker dorsal spines than the females, though normally, females tend to be larger than the males.
Lifespan, Behaviour & Types of Bichir
The lifespan of the Dinosaur Bichir can be as high as 15-20 years, with males living for a slightly shorter period of time than females. These fish are generally shy and avoid contact with other fish.
Suitable Tank Mates For Bichir
So you’ve decided you’re going to get some Bichir, what you’ll want to know next is what are some suitable tank mates?
Breeding Bichir
Bichirs are one of the best beginner fish species. Bichir’s breeding is relatively easy, although getting their eggs to hatch can be frustrating even for seasoned breeders.
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I hope you enjoyed this Bichir Fish Care Guide. If you have any questions at all, just leave a comment here and I’ll do my best to answer all your Bichir Questions!
What is a bichir fish?
Habitat in the wild. Bichirs (lat. Polypteridae) is a family of freshwater ray-finned fishes, the only one in the order Polypteriformes and subclass Cladistia . Nowadays, there are 14 modern genus of the fish known and spread over tropical Africa. Another fish E. calabaricus also belongs to this class.
How big of a tank do you need for a bichir?
Bichirs is quite strong and healthy fish. To keep one you will need a tank of at least 50 US gallons (200 L) capacity and it’s better to be larger. The cover is a must for such a tank! Bichirs can not only jump out of the tank, but also crawl out of it.
What is a Senegal bichir?
Senegal bichir (P. senegallus) This is one of the most active and less timid Polypterids species. It actively swims almost all the time, it is curious and persistent. The fish doesn’t show aggression towards its kind and other tank dwellers if the latter are large enough.
How long is a fish's body?
The fish skeleton resembles that of a shark and it is not made from bones, but from cartilages. Maximum length of Polypterids species body is over 100 cm (39 in), but most of them aren’t longer than 25 cm (9.8 in).
What pH should a polypterid tank be?
Here are proper tank water parameters for Polypterids keeping: water acidity pH should be about 7, the fish is not demanding as for the water hardness. It will feel comfortable both in soft and hard water, though it’s better not to take chances with extremely hard water (higher than 20).
When will bichir fish be released in 2021?
Bichir fishes. June 15, 2021. June 9 , 2021. by Sergey Schulz. Not every fancier of tank fishes has met bichir fish. Though, those who have will never be able to forget this unique and extraordinary fish, no wonder that its second name is dragon bichir. In this article you will read about care, feeding and how to choose its tank mates.
Can Bichir attack fish?
Bichir never attack large healthy fish without a reason. Fishes of the same size as fish will do as its tank mates. These can be oscar, blood parrot, green terror and so on. I wouldn’t recommend to keep together with flowerhorn, since the latter may kill even such a protected fish.
What do bichirs eat?
Now that you have a bichir what does it eat? In their natural habitat bichirs normally eat small fish,various insect larvae and invertabrates .Bichirs are generaly non agressive ambush predators but also oppurtunistic scavengers.Objects to big to be consumed whole are often "deathrolled" till
Is it safe to feed fish pellets?
Just some general advice -- the more good quality pellets they're eating, the better. The problem with fresh and frozen foods is you can't always tell if they're getting all the vitamins they need. So you need a variety of things to be safe. Pellets (and flake, for that matter) has everything most fishes need, so you're safe with it.
Is crabsticks good for goldfish?
Should be fine. They're mostly starch and cheap white fish (like pollack). Little or no crustacean material, so unlikely to have the thiaminase problem. Certainly better than goldfish or rosy-reds, for the same reason. Now, if you could feed your fishes some homemade California rolls, with the crabsticks wrapped with sushi seaweed, they'd be even better! Roughage and vitamins as well as the protein!
Anatomy and Adaptation of the Bichir Fish
Bichir fish has a pair of lungs. The air from the surfaces reaches the lungs through two openings on the head called the spiracles. The bichir fish moves to the surface to get oxygen, then it moves back down. This adaptation helps them live in the dirty, swampy water that has inadequate oxygen.
How a Bichir Fish Moves in Water
Bichir fish looks like a cross-breed between a snake and an eel. They have a stream-lined body (long and narrow) that helps them to reduce water resistance hence quick movement.
Types of Bichir Fish
This is the most popular type of bichir fish. Their main color is grey and they do not grow to belong as other types. This is the original bichir because it does not have any feature that deviates.
Cleaning of Water Tank and Feeding of Bichir Fish
Regularly clean the fish tank to prevent the bichir from getting sick. The ich is a common fish disease that is brought about by a dirty fish tank. A good fish owner must act fast when he/she notices abnormal fish behavior.
Can a Bichir Fish have a Tank Mate?
If you want tank mates for bichir fish, try and find larger fishes because small ones the carnivorous bichir will feed on them. For example, find the Oscar fish, African knife and silver dollar fish as tank mates.
Conclusion
Bichir fish is an ancient type of fish, and owning one is a prestige. You should note that they are carnivorous fish that breathe through the lungs. They are easy to care for because they are resistant to diseases, and with the right tank mate, they can co-exist nicely.
Do you need a feeder for livebearers?
No need for feeders. Home-bred, gut-loaded livebearers are nutritious, but there's always the risk of introducing parasites, and sometimes feeders make carnivorous fish more aggressive. Cockles are indeed those from the grocery store -- but not the pickled ones!#N#Cheers, Neale
Is beef heart good for fish?
Beefheart is grated cow hearts. Normally mammal and bird meats are NOT safe to give to fish because the oils congeal at the lower body temperatures of fish. In warm blooded animals these oils are liquids. Anyway, congealed fats cause blockages. This harms fish. Because beefheart is cardiac muscle, and cardiac muscle doesn't contain fats, unlike skeletal muscle, beefheart is safe to use. In the past it was a popular food for fish because of its low cost. It isn't terribly nutritious, so has largely fallen out of favour, but some old school aquarists still use it. While fine as a treat, it shouldn't be used as a staple. It lacks fibre and isn't particularly rich in essential vitamins. Whole animals such as krill and earthworms are much better.
How often should I feed my baby krill?
Once a day at night and Massivore, Tilapia, Silversides or Krill and one day without feeding....But when young try to feed more often twice a day...just starve him for a few days then feed only massivore or another food item it'll get the idea
Can you eat tilapia if you have no fish?
Yes,as long as there are no small fish it may want to eat ,try starving for a couple of days then try massivore or prawn or mussel or tilapia or anything you want.
Species Summary
Appearance
- The general appearance of bichirs is very ancient and prehistoric. These ray-finned fish have been around for millions of years in one form or another and have undergone very little change over that period of time. They look kind of like a cross between a snake and an eel, and can grow to be quite long. On the top of their backs they have a series of spiny dorsal fins. These dorsal finlets …
Types of Bichirs
- There are a few popular types of bichirs that you’ll see in aquariums all over the world. Each type has a different color and many times will have a body length that’s not shared by other bichirs.
Size
- The average bichir fish size is between 1-2.5 feet in length.This wide range is determined primarily by the type of bichir you get. Other factors like care and genetics influence this as well.
Bichir Care
- Bichir care is not exceptionally difficult, but there are some things you need to be aware of. On the bright side, these are hardy fish. There is a fairly generous range of water parameters that any semi-experienced aquarist should be able to maintain. On the other hand, there are behavioral and dietary considerations that make them a little more time-intensive. All in all, we think this evens …
Behavior & Temperament
- One of the main things you’ll need to be aware of when it comes to bichir care is their temperament. While we wouldn’t consider them very aggressive, they definitely have aggressive tendencies that you need to manage. When you combine this with the fact that they’re carnivores it can lead to some problems with other fish in their tank. Anything their size or smaller might b…
Bichir Tank Mates
- Finding compatible bichir tank mates is all about managing size and potential for aggression. As we’ve said, these fish can be aggressive and are naturally carnivores. This means that any species their size or smaller is probably not a good idea. They might get picked on or even eaten! Fish that are a bit bigger make much better bichir tank mates because they won’t be confused with food a…
Breeding
- There is not a lot of information out there about how to successfully breed bichirs. The process, in general, has not been done much in home aquariums and the amount of data we have is limited. Each type of bichir requires slightly different tank and water conditions to breed, but that too is not well-understood. This just means you might have to do some experimenting if you wish to pursu…
Conclusion
- Owning a bichir is incredibly fun and rewarding. These living fossils are a treat to watch and you’ll often find yourself marveling at their prehistoric look! They’re relatively active fish as well which can be a nice change of pace compared to other bottom-feeders. If nothing else, you’ll frequently witness them visiting the surface to get oxygen. Bichir care is also fairly straightforward. Simply …
Habitat in The Wild
Description
Difficulties in Keeping
Keeping in A Tank
Feeding
- Bichirs is a predator fish and you should feed it basically with live food: bloodworm, frozen shrimps and calamary, small fishes, pieces of ox heart and meat, earthworm. The fish may also feed on artificial food, but this kind of diet is not natural for it. The fish feature is that it eats slowly, since in the wild the fish goes hunting at night wh...
Compatibility and Tank Mates
Gender Differences: Male vs Female
The Most Popular Types