About Senegal Bichirs

Egemen

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 4, 2022
242
236
46
21
Most people on reddit believe those absurd max sizes of bichirs on google so that isn't surprising
Guess so, would you ve kind enough to reccomend some tankmates ? I know 2 Senegals is more than enough for my tank but since I rehomed my Cory Cats there is a lot of leftover food in the bottom thats bad for the water quality. I remove them but some sort of solitary catfish or something would be helpful. My Rainbowshark is terrible at it.
Thanks !
 

NCStateFisher

Polypterus
MFK Member
Sep 27, 2010
3,814
123
96
NC
Best thing to do from a leftover food perspective would be to change what you're feeding.

Do away with the flakes and frozen bloodworms and get them eating a quality sinking pellet - much easier to regulate what they're eating and avoid waste, plus it's much better for the fish - you won't have the issues that you're currently having with the flake and bloodworms. If you want to put a frozen food in their diet, small pieces of shrimp/tilapia or silversides - something a little more meaningful from a meal perspective

That tank will be fine for the Albinos
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey

Egemen

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 4, 2022
242
236
46
21
Best thing to do from a feeding perspective would be to change what you're feeding.

Do away with the flakes and frozen bloodworms and get them eating a quality sinking pellet - much easier to regulate what they're eating and avoid waste, plus it's much better for the fish - you won't have the issue with the leftover food
Hmmm... Would cichlid (small) pellets do ? I got some High quality ones I feed to my Apistos . My Senegals ate them once and seemingly liked them. I thought Frozen food was good since well, it has High protein. Or so I have Heard.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey

NCStateFisher

Polypterus
MFK Member
Sep 27, 2010
3,814
123
96
NC
Being that small shrimp pellets could work well and when they get up to 5" or so hikari sinking carnivor
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey

Egemen

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 4, 2022
242
236
46
21
Being that small shrimp pellets could work well and when they get up to 5" or so hikari sinking carnivor
Sadly its kind of hard to find Hikari brand fish food where I live (Im not from USA) but I will try to find something similiar, maybe Tropicals Carnivore pellets ? Honestly I keep mentioning it but I found this forum much better and welcoming than Reddit version...People there say stuff like "75 gallon is a growout tank if you call yourself a monster fish keeper" and all. Im glad that I will be able to provide a good life to these little buggers. So I should avoid other tankmates ? I have 3 other fish except the Senegals so far, a Rainbow Shark a BN Pleco and an Angelfish. None of them bother the little guys and Im thinking of rehoming some If my Senegals grow to a size that can hurt them. Also while Im at it, how fast do they grow from this size to lets say a size of a hotdog ?
 

Deadeye

POTM Curator
Staff member
MFK Member
Aug 31, 2020
8,812
12,132
703
They are known to pack on an inch per month.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey

Egemen

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 4, 2022
242
236
46
21
They are known to pack on an inch per month.
woah...Heard they were fast growers when small but damn. So I should stay away from frozen food ? Shame, they love those the most go mad when I drop in some bloodworms. Then again I did hear that they could carry disease so I will do what is best for them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey

Deadeye

POTM Curator
Staff member
MFK Member
Aug 31, 2020
8,812
12,132
703
Variety is key with any fish. Blood worms make a good treat, but pellets are the best staple for overall nutritional value.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey

The Masked Shadow

Redtail Catfish
MFK Member
Jul 19, 2020
4,937
5,194
154
Southern California (San Diego)
First off reddit tends to be an absolute dumpster fire when it comes to advice as a lot of people have their heads up their butt and give wrong advice then when you correct them you get yelled at and banned, so stay away from there.
Most people on reddit believe those absurd max sizes of bichirs on google so that isn't surprising
+1. Reddit is not a good source. This is the best forum for your fish. Other good sources are fishbase.se and seriouslyfish. A good starting point is AqAdvisor. As for your Senegals, they should be good in your tank size. I would suggest a wider tank, but I understand financial problems and how frustrating it is. You can keep them in that tank long-term, but can also upgrade to a larger tank. Potential tanks include 55g acrylic, which is 15" wide and 18" tall (I have this tank), a standard 75g, which is 18" wide and 20" tall, and the tank I have currently, a 90g wide tank, which is 2'x4' and 18" tall. The larger and wider you go the more species you could put in. If you go to a 55g, perhaps you could try your hand at a Delhezi (which is a really active and rewarding fish). At 75g you can try some of the rarer species. Mokelembembe, Polli, Delhezi, and maybe palmas.

Pellets are staple for food, as Deadeye said. As a juvenile, my del loved Brine Shrimp. He is not a fan of Hikari Sinking Cichlid Gold I give him now, but still eats it. As they get older you can start to vary their diet with fish fillets or market shrimp.
 
zoomed.com
hikariusa.com
aqaimports.com
Store