setup plant tank for Polypterus ornatipinnis

[mg20000]

Hi , Bro out there
need help or suggestion or post picture or links etc etc here
I am moving my ploypterus ornatipinnis into a bigger tank ( 4 ft ) n i am running out of idea of d new tank set up ....
pls help ....... thanks a million

[Cpark188]

Hi Mg20000,
I think not much members here keeping this species, and very rare that to share the frightening look of the Polypterus ornatipinnis if I'm not wrong. This species may eat or bite larger fish in the aquarium and it can grow up to 60cm in size. In order to setup your tank, common plants like anubias nanas, rosette, java fern more on the hardy types of plants. Also using BW or DW as part of the decoration. Either bare foreground or with tiny stone gravel 3-5mm type. Can visit this site which might give you some idea.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-CyN8itWAk.

Hope you enjoy it. Cheers

[mg20000]

Thanks bro Cpark188 . Didnt actually plan for it but d 5 monsters of mine just kept on growing ( mostly my fault coz I kept on feeding them live food ) . Btw mine is 32cm long . Thanks again for d links .

[Shaihulud]

I used to keep an ornate bichir with a senegal in a 2.5 ft tank 10 over years ago. The only plant in the tank was some amazon sword plant, activities by the bichirs uprooted the plants despite the heavy rooting. I just left the plants free floating, they grew pretty well, even better than being rooted, I did not use fertilization at all in that tank. It was maintained for 3+ years until a day of carelessness, the bichir jumped tank and died.

Presently, i am keeping 3 large endi bichirs in a 4 ft tank. I have given up on rooting plants, they uprooted them all and in my case,and never did well (propably because of lighting) so i i removed them. I have 2 large Java fern on wood in the tank, i intend to add anubias coffeefolia also. A thing to take note of is to get a good pump for the tank, mine previously heated up the water and caused bba all over my fern.

[torque6]

glup... looks frightening , like a snakehead underwater.

[Shaihulud]

The frightening looks... imho is part of the charms of the bichir. I have a snakehead and an African pike in the tank, they are rather peaceful with tankmates that are too large too eat. I would advise using non-rooted plants although i have seen beautiful planted tanks using amazon sword and vallis, my experiment with them was a dismal failure. I even use ADA soil too :P!

[mg20000]

Still setting it up ...... once done will post picture ... thanks bro Shaihulud . Using two pumps btw coz got spare n no more tank to add to it ...hahaha .

[Merviso]

Hi bro,


I'm now having 2 endi, 1 ornate, 1 senegal and 2 albino short bodied senegal birchirs. I also have 2 ropefish in another tank.

Like you, I'm also planning for a bigger tank, but there are lots of things to plan before execution...

Planted sounds nice, but maintenance can be a big problem. Currently, my plan will be 4.5ftx2ftx2ft with 1ft as IOS, going with no gravel and red oyama on the tank base , large driftwood with Nana, moss and fissiden...

Share more when you start on your project... Good luck!

[mg20000]

Bro Merviso ... think u better wish me luck on tat . Just put my 5 babies over ...N they are making hell for me ...keep jumping out of d dresser container ( only thing tat i can find to put them in beside d 4 ft ) n tempering throwing throughout d day . With them ... dont think can do anything fancy . Moss / driftwood is a must coz my babies just love hiding in it while resting . Is d layout tat is killing me .... sigh

[Merviso]

Be careful! They are all very good jumper, especially the ropefish that can practically climb out of the glass tank. Cover is a must for your tank!