Care of young
Young bichirs, in this example P.senegalus as they breed in captivity and are now being farm raised and are the most readily available subjuvenile of the bichirs and the cheapest ( $5-10) range and they are incerdibly small when we buy them 2''-3'' is about normal .
This is how I raise them, there are certainly other ways. I use the step up system, in other words small fish small tank as it grows I move it up to bigger tank. Its a three step process I use they start off in a 10 gallon tank with the water level reduced to about half the tanks volume,
fine gravel or sand for the substrate and silk plants for cover and to float in. I use a sponge filter. At this stage they are fed bloodworms and baby brine, shrimp, chopped squid and very small silversides. I feed small portions a few times a day. This isn't possible for many but try feeding in the morning and again at night, between now and 7" they are undergoing their greatest growth and are constantly hungry.
When they reach approx. 5'' I add a small power filter and raise the water level to approx 2 inches under the trim frame. At this size they are
bigger, foods include small feeders, ghost shrimp, bloodworms earthworms etc. They stay in this tank till 7-8'' at which point I move them to a 20 gallon long for final growout. These steps allow the bichir room to exercise but still small enough so its easy to find/catch food. Of course if I get a bigger specimen 5-6'' they would go into the 10 gallon then move up to the 20 long this gives me time to watch for any signs of illness. Remember many bichirs are wild caught quarantine is a good habit to get into.
Young bichirs, in this example P.senegalus as they breed in captivity and are now being farm raised and are the most readily available subjuvenile of the bichirs and the cheapest ( $5-10) range and they are incerdibly small when we buy them 2''-3'' is about normal .
This is how I raise them, there are certainly other ways. I use the step up system, in other words small fish small tank as it grows I move it up to bigger tank. Its a three step process I use they start off in a 10 gallon tank with the water level reduced to about half the tanks volume,
fine gravel or sand for the substrate and silk plants for cover and to float in. I use a sponge filter. At this stage they are fed bloodworms and baby brine, shrimp, chopped squid and very small silversides. I feed small portions a few times a day. This isn't possible for many but try feeding in the morning and again at night, between now and 7" they are undergoing their greatest growth and are constantly hungry.
When they reach approx. 5'' I add a small power filter and raise the water level to approx 2 inches under the trim frame. At this size they are
bigger, foods include small feeders, ghost shrimp, bloodworms earthworms etc. They stay in this tank till 7-8'' at which point I move them to a 20 gallon long for final growout. These steps allow the bichir room to exercise but still small enough so its easy to find/catch food. Of course if I get a bigger specimen 5-6'' they would go into the 10 gallon then move up to the 20 long this gives me time to watch for any signs of illness. Remember many bichirs are wild caught quarantine is a good habit to get into.
