Ornate Bichir

[thebassepidemic]

I picked up a good sized bichir form the FG this weekend, and was told he's eatting krill. When do these guys do their eatting, day or night? I havent been able to see him eat yet, Ive practically put the krill directly in his mouth and he turns his nose to it. Hes super healthy looking and seems pretty active, Im just a little stressed over it at the time being since its my first big bichir. Hope you guys can tell me a litle more about them, thanks.

[flamenco-t]

They can go without eating for months...yes months. It took one of my bichirs 2 months of starving themselves before they started to take shrimp or krill.

If he's about 6" and smaller, I wouldn't try to starve them for more than 2-3 weeks.

I have had over 50 at one point, now, I am only keeping 3 endlies at 19-20" long each and about 30 plus smaller endlies.

stan

[flamenco-t]

This was almost a year ago..

I also have an ornate that's about 15"

Stan

[thebassepidemic]

K sweet Im still going to keep trying for now, but thats a big weight off my shoulders. Months though wow, sounds more like their cousins the snake. How difficult is it to breed these guys in captivity?

[flamenco-t]

K sweet Im still going to keep trying for now, but thats a big weight off my shoulders. Months though wow, sounds more like their cousins the snake. How difficult is it to breed these guys in captivity?

Breeding is literally impossible for ornate. Most senegal have been proven to spawn in captivity, but there's very little evidence that the eggs can actually laid and hatched.

I have seen breeding behaviour out of endlies, but again, nothing ever happened.

[thebassepidemic]

Those two are some beauties, mine is not quite that big. Its only 7" or so, Ill get some pics up shortly.

[fishman76092]

Breeding is literally impossible for ornate. Most senegal have been proven to spawn in captivity, but there's very little evidence that the eggs can actually laid and hatched.

I have seen breeding behaviour out of endlies, but again, nothing ever happened.

I was selling TR ornates about 4 months ago on AB. 2-3" fish for $20ea. Its rare-but possible if you know what you are doing. There was a book in the 80s/90s that oulined how someone got them to spawn in a tank-cant remember the name. It was a TFH book.

[thebassepidemic]

Here's a few pics of mine, dont know if it's male or female, and still not named. I got it eatting though and it's full of spit fire and personality.:D

[ayla]

Oh great. Now yet another reason that I need a massive tank. Or two. Or three.

[thebassepidemic]

roflmao

[Austin]

That's one of my old ornates I traded in a few months ago I'm pretty sure. Funny there was no interest on the forum when I tried to sell it.

[thebassepidemic]

I prob. didnt have the tank size at that time, but if it is one of yours thanks. Its a great looking Bichir for sure. Bastards growing super fast, lucky me he doest care to eat live food at the moment..

[Austin]

If it is mine (I really think so) I never fed live but I'm sure he'd be glad to take a nip at anything smaller. ;)

[thebassepidemic]

Oh no this dude is trying, but he's just about 2" to short for all my cichlids to be worried...

[northtexasfossilguy]

I can't wait to see him devour those parrots... lol :p:

[Austin]

Oh no this dude is trying, but he's just about 2" to short for all my cichlids to be worried...

give him a month or two, he'll make those 2 inches, the two i kept are close to 18"..