What do bichir eels eat

The key is to balance the diet with a variety of foods listed above not just 1 or 2 items and skipping a meal once you notice a decline in growth rate is good for fish.

The sad truth is we as hobbyists tend to overfeed our charges Pellitized foods Can be found in various diameters and forms include sinking and floating pellets and sticks shrimp pellets worm pellets even pellets for cichlids will work spirulina sticks brine shrimp sticks Algae wafers some eat them some just look at them When feeding pellets how much to feed? Under 7''I let them eat as much as they want several small feedings when young are better then 1 or 2 large feedings.

How manyPellets? I start off with total 2 pellets per inch of fish eg. Mine's Polypterus senegalus. Thanks for the advices, and I'm planning to use frozen blood worms. But they're pretty big in size about 1cm cube. Should I cut it into halves or quarters? Variety is key - one food alone is not going to have all the nutrients required see beblondie's post also I'd definitely get small sinking pellets and try to get them taking them while young. IME senegals eat pretty much anything once they are comfortable in their surroundings so it is good to offer tham a wide range of foods.

Oh as for the bloodworm or other frozen food cubes - defrost and feed a little then offer the rest later - 3 feeds a day would be ideal - the defrosted cube will keep in the fridge to allow this. Do you all think it's worth it? Depends on tank size and what you want? Senegals are very active - especially if you can get a group. Decent price though.

I'm planning to buy one first and I want a male one. Any idea how to differentiate a male from female, besides the male having a thicker anal fin? Thanks in advance. How old must they be to see the obvious difference between male and female then?

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Most of the specimens you find available are caught in the wild — they are not commercially bred. If you are buying juveniles it is impossible to distinguish between a male and female. Bichirs are predatory fish, with a moderately aggressive temperament. They are problematic when kept with smaller size fish, as they will nip at their fins or even eat them. However, they seem to have no problems sharing their tank with larger fish.

These fish are bottom-dwellers, and will spend most of their time near the bottom of the tank. They are nocturnal animals and prefer feeding during the night. They have poor eyesight and rely mainly on their other senses to find food. They are peculiar looking fish that can breathe air. They have paired lungs which help gas exchange in poorly oxygenated environments.

They have two small openings on the top of their head called spiracles which they breathe through. Another peculiar characteristic is that you will see them walking around on the substrate of your tank. Yes, you read correctly, they can walk! They can use their pectoral fins and tail to move around. Bichirs are living fossils that resemble ancient-looking fish. They are one of the oldest living lineages leading to the bony fishes we know today and are the sister group of ray-finned fishes.

They have about 60 million years of independent evolution, retaining different characteristics from the common ancestor of all ray-finned fishes: lungfish and tetrapods. An example of a common characteristic that these fish retained is their functional lungs but they also have developed some unique features such as the row of dorsal fins and scales.

There are 12 species of Bichirs in the Polypterus genus, all with similar characteristics. They have a slender snake-like body with multiple dorsal spines and fins. They also have visible nostrils with large paddle-shaped pectoral fins which are occasionally used to move around. To compensate for their bad eyesight, they have protruding nostrils that can be directed around to help them pinpoint the source of the smell.

Whilst the difference between males and females is slim — females are usually larger in size while males have wider and thicker anal and dorsal fins. Bichirs are mainly found across freshwater environments in tropical Africa and the Nile River systems. They live in estuaries and floodplains with muddy waters and silted substrates. As they have a good pair of functional lungs, they are very good at surviving in very poor oxygen conditions and low water habitats. Tank substrate is an important choice.

Gravel can be an option, however, is not usually found in their natural environment. Sand is the best option. They are not too fused about tank decoration, so you can add anything you prefer. Plants can be very useful, as they provide cover from light. You should leave some air space above the water at the top of the tank to allow your fish to breathe. However just like any other tank they still need a good filtration system to get rid of the toxic chemicals produced from leftover food.

Make sure to double check the water parameters for the exact species you decide to keep as different species have different water requirements. They usually do well with larger fish, so think Oscars , Blood Parrots, Flowerhorns , large Barbs, Knifefish, medium and large Catfish, and large peaceful African cichlids.

Bichirs are quite slow-moving, so can have some problems with fast active tank mates stealing their food. As bottom-dwelling fish, they might starve as other fish can steal their food before reaching the bottom of the tank. Remember though, they are predatory fish. So smaller fish and other non-fish inhabitants are discouraged as they will be eaten. Some people do keep these unique creatures as pets. However, it is important to always choose pets that have been born in human care.

Never buy any pet that has been captured from the wild. Not only does the pet trade impact wild populations, but you also run the risk of spreading disease to your other fish. You must have a large, freshwater tank to properly care for these fishes.

They are carnivores, so you must feed them either live or freeze-dried prey, like shrimp and worms. You cannot house them with smaller species of fish, as they will eat them. They can cohabitate peacefully with fish species larger than them. This fish is nocturnal, which means it is most active at night.

You generally do not see it during the day, as it retreats into crevices and vegetation to hide from predators. As night falls, it emerges to search for prey using its keen sense of smell. Some species hold territories which they defend from other fish. Each species has slightly different reproductive rates and behaviors. For some species, researchers are entirely sure how their reproduction occurs. In many species, changes in water chemistry during the rainy season spur mating.

Generally, females lay several hundred eggs at once, and the male then fertilizes them. Typical nesting sites include beneath vegetation and other debris.