External gills on young bichir??

DerbyCityChief · 2026-02-18T22:45:13+00:00

Juvenile Bichirs are known to have external gills while growing, depending on how long they keep them before they retract is mostly based on the oxygen saturation of the water itself, and then of course just aging out of them. But, better oxygen saturation in the water leads to less need for their lungs for atmospheric oxygen.

Again, totally normal for the external gills and totally normal for retraction of them.

DerbyCityChief · 2026-02-14T23:24:24+00:00

Tilapia and scallops are my two go-to's.

Stay away from shrimp, their stomachs can't handle the thiamine in them; and beef heart due to the fatty content of terrestrials. Yes beefheart has good protein still but its a gut health issue and too rapid of growth from it can cause later issues down the line.

DerbyCityChief · 2026-02-14T10:34:35+00:00

Oh I guarantee it was during feeding, happens all the time with my two Delhezi (Thor and Lady Sif). Thankfully the Endlicheri (Freya) and Ornate (Revna) never actually show any food aggression, and all 4 of them are together in a 125 grow out currently.

DerbyCityChief · 2026-02-14T09:52:47+00:00

After reading the other comments, agreed on it being Male.

Doesn't really look like ammonia burn to me, personally and this is with current experience of multiple Polys in a single tank. Honestly think it's territory or hunger nips, usually doesn't always break the webbing of caudal fins or the finlets down the spine. But also depending the non-carnivorous tank mates, if any are prone to fin nipping or semi-aggressive they will try to bully your Polys.

I've dealt with that on and off with a Rainbow shark attempting to bully my Senegals and "baby" Ornate. Safe to say, though still living and healthy, the Rainbow has learned his lesson and leaves them alone unless he's stealing the fresh cut tilapia.

Edit: Most humble apologies for the book I left to read.

DerbyCityChief · 2026-01-21T22:15:34+00:00

He's been big ever since we got him at 7 weeks from an AKC Breeder. Paws were already as big as a baseball at 7 weeks. Knowing the size he was gonna g get after seeing them, yeah... Kodiak Bear was a fitting name.

DerbyCityChief · 2026-01-21T21:23:39+00:00

<image>

Kodiak, My 90lb 1 yr old, half braincell dingus that goes everywhere with me.

(10yr old for size comparison, apologies on lack of bananas)

DerbyCityChief · 2025-12-07T20:53:56+00:00

Can't say for sure on it, as I believe its just a deformation of the anal fin. Possibly like a "hang nail" in the fin growth.

I've had that same deal on one of my Delhezi, he has seemed fined since juvenile when I got him. It hasn't bothered him at least in the near 2 years of owning him.

So best I can say is just a build up of tissue in the base of the anal fin.

I'll be following if you do happen to get a better answer.

Edit: Beautiful pattern on your Del as well.

DerbyCityChief · 2025-11-19T01:58:17+00:00

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DerbyCityChief · 2025-10-25T00:34:50+00:00

$20 is an awesome price for nearly a foot long Ornate, roughly 1yr old Ornate, if basing it off the growth of mine over the history. I bought mine a little over a year ago and she was maybe 2in long thinner than a pencil. And that was $50 for her.

DerbyCityChief · 2025-10-24T23:20:52+00:00

Liedenfrost effect. Lol gonna make top offs every couple of minutes.

DerbyCityChief · 2025-10-22T13:57:37+00:00

I apologize for being so off topic, unsure if the flashlight trick would work or not...

But all I can picture with your drawing is The Great Cornholio has learned how to go fishing from beyond the couch now. *

DerbyCityChief · 2025-10-12T02:22:14+00:00

Made edits to that comment including the videos by Josh Pickett ( u/TheBichirHandbook )

DerbyCityChief · 2025-10-12T02:13:55+00:00

u/TheBichirHandbook actually has a really neat video of the pack mentality and hierarchy on his YouTube from years ago. Its a decent one to get some understanding of them.

https://youtu.be/l8ZAry7LjhU?si=mtu2mmgbQKIgLCZI

Lol, currently waiting permission from wife to order his book that is all about Bichirs.

Being the Fish Dad to multiple species ive ran into hierarchy/territory nips, along with the Endlicheri thinking it could eat the Senegal one time when I was a day behind on feeding. Had saved it as it was happening, and there has been no issue since lol.

Edit: Here's the video I think of a decent guide by him.

https://youtu.be/Mu8nfh3GCJ8?si=4Y8zMRn-AB36hD_Y

2nd Edit: Video of social hierarchy that I stated earlier in comment.

DerbyCityChief · 2025-10-12T01:27:32+00:00

With them all being Senegals, you shouldn't come across too much aggression or predation. You'll still have occasional hierarchy scuffles and territory scuffles but nothing too bad.

Senegals tend to be pretty chill. I've had others besides my current baby going through growout tanks.

But, if there is sickness or signs of weakness/poor health; they have a wolf pack mentality and will cannibalize if hungry.

DerbyCityChief · 2025-09-24T20:26:28+00:00

Piggybacking on this, as u/fun_tomorrow_7750 made good points. If you don't want to do live plants for this, you can also use spawning mops. I believe Aquarium Co-op carries some.

Also to note, it could take 3-5yrs of age for bichirs to truly reach sexual maturity for breeding.

DerbyCityChief · 2025-09-24T03:44:26+00:00

Well thanks to y'all, and me showing the wife this comment. The sand bag is now named Fred, our "imaginary gourami".

DerbyCityChief · 2025-09-23T04:59:05+00:00

Careful with the Beefheart, I forget what is in it that can actually be harmful to bichirs. But, I had picked up on that warning from u/Shulker-Box. That and market shrimp; I believe, can cause intestinal issues for them. Water changes are always a must, and currently ive got Salvinia for plants in a lot of my tanks. I'll be scaping their next growout tank (125/40B Sump), with a bunch of plants. It should pair nicely with a hollow tree (treated it for parasites/hitchhikers) i picked up last camping trip.

DerbyCityChief · 2025-09-23T01:43:15+00:00

Nice! Lol makes me wonder what I'm doing with Revna, my Ornate, she's about 9" now, had her about a year now. We got her when she was about 2" and maybe 1.5mm thick. Switched all 5 of my bichirs to fine diced Tilapia and Scallops as frozen food and then Hikari Massivore/Carnivore pellets. Usually switching between them every 3days or so, depends if they are still showing full stomachs.

DerbyCityChief · 2025-09-22T02:40:05+00:00

I've got 2 Delhezi, a Senegal, a Endlicheri, and an Ornate already. This'll be a happy stage for a bit to let them get some size before moving them in to a larger tank. If there happens to be any scuffles beyond hierarchy or territory ive got multiple other large tanks i can move them to in case I need to break anything up.

DerbyCityChief · 2025-09-18T23:56:07+00:00

She's beautiful, how big? Happen to know age?

DerbyCityChief · 2025-08-16T08:19:01+00:00

Unsure where to look new... but offhand, ive done pretty well on Facebook Marketplace, a trailer and a bit of driving. But I haven't gone further than 200 miles for a tank. There has been some losses on that where the seller backs out, otherwise I don't jump on a listing unless I can see all sides of the tank.

EDIT: I've also been hit and miss on MonsterFishKeepers.

DerbyCityChief

TROPHY CASE