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An Oddball (Senegal Bichir) Doing An Odd Thing?


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#1 DavidK

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Posted 27 January 2014 - 04:54 PM

Hi all,

I have got my first senegal bichir (about 20cm) and it is sitting at the top of tank on top of a piece of wood. It stays there for quite a while. I have only added him today and am not stressed about what he is doing. I think its because i have duckweed on the surface and likes to hide under it (same as what other sources have told me)

 

Just wondering if anyone has observed this behaviour before on here? Temp is 25.5, pH 7, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 15

 

Thanks :) will post some pics later on when it has settled in as I'm unsure on sex, due to no experience with males and females 



#2 chocobikies

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Posted 27 January 2014 - 06:53 PM

thats pretty normal behaviour - they seem to like to "perch".

Also to hide.

Would do it on plants as well. easier to get to the surface for air i guess



#3 Anka

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Posted 27 January 2014 - 07:16 PM

That is normal behaviour. Remember, bichirs are opportunistic hunters. In the wild they will stay still and wait for prey to swim passed.

 

Something that might freak you out is when they swim erratically along the glass... as far as I know that is also pretty normal behaviour.



#4 DavidK

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Posted 28 January 2014 - 12:42 AM

Awesome :) yeah I wasn't stressed about it as I had heard a lot about them doing this
Still unsure on sex, but will post pics later

#5 bigjohnnofish

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Posted 28 January 2014 - 02:21 AM

boys have a thicker anal fin than the girls...... they do some crazy stuff sometimes... other times do nothing :)



#6 Anka

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Posted 28 January 2014 - 09:09 PM

Chuck up a photo of it's anal fin.

 

If the fish is a decent size (15cm+) we might be able to assist you in knowing the sex.

 

Otherwise just google "sexing polypterus".



#7 DavidK

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Posted 29 January 2014 - 05:16 PM

Well you called it Anka :P it's going crazy up and down sideways swimming along the glass haha
Here is a bad iPhone pic of him :) as I said before it's tail isn't the best but it will heal
image_zpsfbf0dde1.jpg

#8 DavidK

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Posted 29 January 2014 - 05:27 PM

Something I have noticed is that the dorsal fins in top start quite far back. Every other bichir I have seen (on google etc) the dorsal fins start a lot further towards the head

#9 bigjohnnofish

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Posted 29 January 2014 - 06:00 PM

definitely a boy.... yes does seem odd with its dorsals.... 



#10 JackMack

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Posted 29 January 2014 - 06:00 PM

Daaaawwww, look at his/her smile!

#11 DavidK

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Posted 29 January 2014 - 06:01 PM

I know I even said say cheese :P

#12 Anka

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Posted 29 January 2014 - 06:09 PM

I agree with Johnno - definitely a male.

 

Cute fish.



#13 Bermont

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Posted 30 January 2014 - 01:21 AM

male senegals tend to be much darker arent they?



#14 Jules

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Posted 30 January 2014 - 07:49 AM

I had 2 males that varied greatly in colour, one was 2 tone and the other same as yours.....

also confirming a definite male.

senegalus dorsal spines/fins do start further back then most other bichirs I have noticed.



#15 DavidK

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Posted 30 January 2014 - 03:43 PM

Hey Anka if he going crazy up and down the glass does it mean he is hungry? Because I feed him about 3-4 small carnivore pellets and some bloodworm

#16 Jules

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Posted 30 January 2014 - 04:12 PM

they can eat far more then that.

at 20cm I used to feed 3 whole white baits each every couple days.



#17 DavidK

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Posted 30 January 2014 - 04:19 PM

Okay I'll feed about 5 pellets and blood worm a day until I get some white bait :)

#18 Anka

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Posted 30 January 2014 - 06:44 PM

male senegals tend to be much darker arent they?

 

Not in my experience. Their colours change with their temperament and environment.

 

I had a male and a female, and the female was usually darker (but not always) than the male.

 

 

Hey Anka if he going crazy up and down the glass does it mean he is hungry? Because I feed him about 3-4 small carnivore pellets and some bloodworm

 

That's just something that they all seem to do.

 

You could probably feed him a bit more. Perhaps double the pellets and see if he eats it all. They love whitebait so feed him some every couple days. I have some leftover whitebait in the freezer that you are welcome to come grab for free.



#19 DavidK

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Posted 30 January 2014 - 09:52 PM

That would be great if you don't mind :) never fed white bait before is it just defrost and cut up?



#20 Anka

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Posted 30 January 2014 - 10:33 PM

I like to feed them whole (or cut in half). There is a risk of them chocking (but then again, no one cuts up their food for them in the wild) but it's fun to watch them shred it apart. You might even see them death roll!

 

I used to put it in a plastic cup and defrost it in tank water. Then I would use a toothpick to poke wholes in the whitebait to function the organs to stop it from floating.

 

You can come pick it up on the weekend if you're keen. I live quite close to you.






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