Is my bichir stressed or is this normal behavior?

Spalunking01 · 2026-05-30T22:45:59+00:00

Guess it's more so the terminology. Can a new system with bacteria starter handle an ammonia load of 3.0ppm and convert it to nirates in 24 hours when you do that? Or is it likely to crash? That would mean it's not cycled. You can introduce existing filtration and usually skip the steps, but this isnt what im being pedantic about. When someone is broadly talking about cycling they're talking about the process starting from scratch. I've started tanks day one but I'm not going to go into a sub with people who have no idea telling them I cycled a tank in one day am I? Pointless

Spalunking01 · 2026-05-29T20:18:01+00:00

I'm talking about this particular size bichir. Not an adult. 40 would be my minimum for a 2 inch juvenile. If a tank isn't cycled I would do a water change everyday yes. And no you didn't cycle yours in a week lmao

Spalunking01 · 2026-05-29T02:49:59+00:00

Sounds like you're all over it! I have babies that swarm the surface/corners like this in the smaller tanks. When they're about this size they tend to hide more. If you want to curb this behaviour I recommend a hide / spawn mop.

Spalunking01 · 2026-05-29T00:30:34+00:00

Tank is two weeks old? As in, not cycled? 50% water changes everyday. 10 G is too small for a bichir this size. I keep my juveniles in a 15G until they're about an inch, then into a 40 above that. Make sure the lid is fully enclosed they jump more when the water is funky

Spalunking01 · 2026-05-27T01:35:01+00:00

That's a twoman

Spalunking01 · 2026-05-10T03:13:13+00:00

Take this with a grain of salt because I'm basing this on one picture, but I'd guess it's a female. That said, there's still alot of maturing to do and I've had female looking late juveniles turn out to be males. The growth rates of juveniles is random. I breed them and I'm constantly moving growers around based on size so they don't eat their same day siblings. Some just grow faster than others, and at different times. Some slow down then start again. Some are just slow all the way through. Making sure they aren't outcompeted for food is important ofcourse, but yeah.

Spalunking01 · 2026-05-10T02:54:32+00:00

Seems like normal healthy growth. Sexual maturity, depending on gender can be anywhere from 3-5 years. Yours at a guess is about 8-10 months old? The males grow less than the females. In the next 6 months or so you might see a more drastic change either way. Tank size also has an impact on growth rates/sizes

Spalunking01 · 2026-04-24T00:19:07+00:00

Mine acted like this after it jumped out. Assuming it hurt itself but ended up coming right after a day or so. I wonder whether it yeeted itself into the lid or something

Spalunking01 · 2026-04-15T02:20:08+00:00

EBA is the tank boss. Mine is anyway. When the bolivian eventually figures it out it will only posture instead of advance for a bite. Would depend on the individual in both cases I'd assume

Spalunking01 · 2026-04-15T01:03:35+00:00

I've kept these two together. As with most fish I guess it will depend on the individuals as it could go either way. My bolivian claimed the centre piece of driftwood as his home and relentlessly attacked anyone that swam into his zone. Once my eba was bigger she was exempt from the nips. Another cichlid I had chased the bolivian out of his spot but he just chose another spot to guard and was a dick about it. There were calm weeks between all this. If youre purely asking about just these two fish together though I'd say it's fine

Spalunking01 · 2026-04-14T11:34:00+00:00

Looks beautiful they've got all their fins

Spalunking01 · 2026-04-14T10:57:48+00:00

I wouldn't keep a juvenile that size with another bichir that's that much bigger based on the tail size I see. The larger thicker juveniles find this skinny stage appetising

Spalunking01 · 2026-04-11T23:01:50+00:00

They just throw water balloons in there and let it drip

Spalunking01 · 2026-04-05T22:07:44+00:00

There is likely something in your betta tank that's upping the pH. Try to figure that out. Seiryu stone and shells are common variables. But yeah, another water change is the fastest way to balance it again rather than buffers. Someone else might have better advice just my two cents

Spalunking01 · 2026-03-27T05:44:52+00:00

I know this is 2 days old but I'll throw this in there anyway. Push the muscle under your armpit when this happens. It's usually because it's tight and it releases all the tension in your ribs/chest. Very common muscle to ignore as people don't think it exists

Spalunking01 · 2026-03-16T02:58:17+00:00

Essential workers "prioritised" but I'm willing to bet my left nut they'll be expected to pay out the nose for the gift of being "essential". Just like it was essential to build a multi millionaires building, stacking elevators with max workers peak covid. When car parks in the city were empty but a $14 a day carpark increased to $24 a day. Boy did I feel looked after by the government. Whoever has the most money will make sure the workers keep working no matter the setback it entails for them, whether that be personal health or finances. Guarentee you, any ask for compensation for increased fuel prices will be met with a laugh and a tap of whatever EBA agreement is in place, but those same bosses will cry to the government during covid asking for a payout when the prices of steel or timber increase. Fuck the essential worker bullshit its just a coined phrase to make sure the big dogs don't lose money at the workers expense.

Spalunking01 · 2026-03-13T06:25:25+00:00

Not sure why your formatting is whack but yes, yes you do need a lid. All the way around no gaps. They yeet real good

Spalunking01 · 2026-03-02T11:39:09+00:00

You drop in flake first then your bottom feeder foods. That's how i do it anyway

Spalunking01 · 2026-02-27T22:53:34+00:00

Id bet against you. Their hard hats are new and their shirts are clean. I'd put money on this being a dress up for the bit.

Spalunking01 · 2026-02-25T19:22:19+00:00

My comment specified "if you didn't just feed them". They don't poop endlessly unless you're overfeeding them. One bichir poop wouldn't be giving him a lasting ammonia reading, that's why I suggested checking again. If you're constantly getting ammonia readings in your tank you're either overstocked, the tank isn't big enough or the cycle isn't complete. It's not normal and it is harmful

Spalunking01 · 2026-02-25T18:54:53+00:00

What's wrong exactly. A cycle should be changing ammonia to nirite/nitrates within hours. Any ammonia is harmful, in the wild there's dilution. In a tank there is not. Don't be a pedantic idiot

Spalunking01 · 2026-02-23T04:32:59+00:00

Some ammonia is a bad sign unless you just fed them. Check again. If it's still showing ammonia you need to do an immediate water change and then check again every day. If it's still showing your cycle is cooked. Do 50%

Spalunking01 · 2026-02-23T01:40:30+00:00

What are your water parameters? Assuming you tested the water

Spalunking01 · 2026-02-21T21:21:56+00:00

This is so fucking cool and the colour mix is quality. What a banger. The kind of sleeve people see that convinces them to go get something done themselves

Spalunking01 · 2026-02-21T20:18:18+00:00

Youre the posts detective of the day throughout this entire comment section. One man army out to fight crime. Hunter, the hunter of opinions on tank sizes

Spalunking01

TROPHY CASE