Delhezi Bicher Questions.

[raeven]

So, I've been told that these guys technically qualify as monsters, so I figured I'd come here and ask around and see if anyone has any advice on these guys.

I happened to see one at the store the other day. It was definitely an impulse buy, but I certainly don't regret it. Although there are a few things I'm wondering about.

I've tried feeding him bloodworms, but he just doesn't seem interested in them. Is there a specific time I should be feeding him? I heard that bichers and knife fish get along okay, and that they're actually good tank mates for each other, but only after a few days of having both, my ghost knife up and disappeared, along with a rummynose tetra. So I wonder if he's eating up these guys when the lights are off.

I've also heard that bichers are excellent escape artists. I'm not too worried about him crawling out of my tank or anything, although I'm curious if I should be. How good are they?

[King-eL]

Here are some of the few thing about bichirs that you need to know. Yes they are qualified as monster fish. They are ambush predators that are capable of doing death rolls. It mean they can take down even similar size fish that they can over power by biting and holding and spinning the body till they can take a chunk of meat out till the prey is consume. Or it will just swallow slender fish sich as the black ghost knife and tetras are sure are bite size. Bichirs and knifefish gets along fine but will depend on the size and species of knifefish. Juvenile knifefish or any juvenile fish will have a scent of a baby fish which attracts most predatory fish, especially nocturnal fish, such as bichirs. The only way a bichir will escape out of the tank if it does not like the environment. Usually small tank or smaller than 55g.

BTW how big is the bichir? Tank size? Tankmate size?

[gmachine19]

Yes they can even eat clown loaches and survive. Try to feed them at night at dim light. Or starve them. They won't resist any food you drop if they are hungry enough.

[raeven]

That's all great to know.

He's still a baby himself, maybe 3 and a half inches at the most. He still has his gills. Heck, on that note, I don't even know if it's a male yet. I've been told they won't be distinguishable until they're a bit older.

The tank we have him in now is a 55, although we have plans to get a 125 within the next six months or so.

His companions for the time being are a dwarf gourami, an angelfish (medium size, I believe) 4 rummynose tetras, 6 platies, 2 plecos, 2 apple snails, a yoyo loach, redtail black shark, 2 odessa barbs, an apisto and a kribensis. I believe that's all of them. The biggest of these guys is the angelfish, who's probably at least 4 inches tall.

When we had the ghost knife, he was still a baby. Bought the same day, so roughly 2 inches or something along those lines. I want to try again with the ghost knife, though I'm gonna put him in the smaller tank (45 gallon) till he gets a little bit bigger and can handle himself.

[King-eL]

That's all great to know.

He's still a baby himself, maybe 3 and a half inches at the most. He still has his gills. Heck, on that note, I don't even know if it's a male yet. I've been told they won't be distinguishable until they're a bit older.

The tank we have him in now is a 55, although we have plans to get a 125 within the next six months or so.

His companions for the time being are a dwarf gourami, an angelfish (medium size, I believe) 4 rummynose tetras, 6 platies, 2 plecos, 2 apple snails, a yoyo loach, redtail black shark, 2 odessa barbs, an apisto and a kribensis. I believe that's all of them. The biggest of these guys is the angelfish, who's probably at least 4 inches tall.

When we had the ghost knife, he was still a baby. Bought the same day, so roughly 2 inches or something along those lines. I want to try again with the ghost knife, though I'm gonna put him in the smaller tank (45 gallon) till he gets a little bit bigger and can handle himself.

Not sure what pleco you have but if it's a common or sailfin pleco it's not a good choice tank mate for bichirs or anu ganoid scales fish. It will get a taste of slime and will start sucking the bichir's slime till it will get stress out and die or get skin infection. Same with the redtail black shark. As for the other fish, they they will soon become part of the menu. Late nights take out for dinner. A yoyo loach might be 50-50 survival rate. Or last in the menu.

[raeven]

The plecos are just bristlenose. They seem to be okay so far. As for the other fish...I'm not really looking forward to them kicking the bucket. Looks like we'll have to move them back into the old tank for now, then. Guess that's what you get with impulse buys like that one lol

The sooner we get this 125 gallon, the better it seems. This is so sad. I only got my first tank like 6 months ago. We're already a thousands dollars less because of this adicting hobby lol. I don't know how you true monster keepers can handle all that

[gmachine19]

The plecos are just bristlenose. They seem to be okay so far. As for the other fish...I'm not really looking forward to them kicking the bucket. Looks like we'll have to move them back into the old tank for now, then. Guess that's what you get with impulse buys like that one lol

The sooner we get this 125 gallon, the better it seems. This is so sad. I only got my first tank like 6 months ago. We're already a thousands dollars less because of this adicting hobby lol. I don't know how you true monster keepers can handle all that

A lot of people know how you feel lol!

[King-eL]

The plecos are just bristlenose. They seem to be okay so far. As for the other fish...I'm not really looking forward to them kicking the bucket. Looks like we'll have to move them back into the old tank for now, then. Guess that's what you get with impulse buys like that one lol

The sooner we get this 125 gallon, the better it seems. This is so sad. I only got my first tank like 6 months ago. We're already a thousands dollars less because of this adicting hobby lol. I don't know how you true monster keepers can handle all that

Bristlenose plecos are fine and infact, the best plecos to have for ganoid scaled fish and algae cleaner.

[raeven]

Good to know about the plecos. Question, though. They're still pretty small themselves. Should I keep them in a seperate tank just until they grow up a bit? They might still be bite sized for the time being.

And what about the redtail shark? Do you think he might have survival issues, too? I want to get out as many of the snacks as possible lol

[King-eL]

Good to know about the plecos. Question, though. They're still pretty small themselves. Should I keep them in a seperate tank just until they grow up a bit? They might still be bite sized for the time being.

And what about the redtail shark? Do you think he might have survival issues, too? I want to get out as many of the snacks as possible lol

At that size. The redtail black shark will likely rasp on the bichir's scales. If it manage to survive and get up to 10" in a year. The redtail black shark will surely get eaten. Redtail black shark only maxes out 6". In a 55g it will be even smaller at 4-5". Also redtail black shark grows slow at 4". A delhezi will hit 10" in a year. Anything slender and 7" or smaller will get eaten. Bichirs predatory behavior shows during the dark and black sharks sleep during the dark. Just a perfect opportunity for bichir to grab it.