Bichir in Brackish

[rsandelius]

Can bichirs tolerate brackish water conditions?

 

[FishHeadSoup]

never heard of such a thing...

 

[beblondie]

No while they can tolerate small amonuts of salt in their water the salinity levels tolerated are nowhere near brackish levels

 

[Oddball]

Bichirs have evolved in waters with a slight salt content. However, these salts are derived from calcium chloride and not sodium chloride as exists in sea water.

 

[rsandelius]

Excellent. Thanks for the info. I'll save the sea-salt for emergency medical use, then....

 

[foxypleco]

polypterus have been known to venture into lake tanganyika but yeah its a different salt.

 

[beblondie]

Actually they may venture briefly into the lake the 2 species indiginous species P.e.endlicheri and P.ornatipinnis are generaly found in marginal areas where freshwater streams enter the lake-Anne

 

[datnioides]

Ropefish/reedfish naturally occur in fresh and brackish waters:

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=4830&genusname=Erpetoichthys&speciesname=calabaricus

However, I doubt that they go much past 1.005 SG.

 

[beblondie]

thats not very brackish is it.-Anne

 

[datnioides]

thats not very brackish is it.-Anne

No, I'd consider it light brackish. Full SW is around 1.021 to 1.025, so 1.005 is roughly 1/5 to 1/4 strength SW.