Ornate bichir Care Guide

Care Process

The Ornate bichir is considered a moderate to difficult species to care for, primarily due to its specific environmental requirements and behavior. It requires a tank that is at least 100 liters per fish, with a minimum school size of 3 individuals to thrive properly. This species is semi-aggressive and exhibits highly territorial behavior, which should be considered when selecting tank mates. During breeding, they can become slightly more aggressive.

Feeding

Ornate bichirs have a varied diet and thrive on a mix of different food types. Suitable options include flakes, pellets, and freeze-dried foods. They also enjoy live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, tubifex worms, frozen shrimp, daphnia, micro worms, and feeder fish. Adding vegetable matter, algae wafers, color enhancing food, and stick-on tablets can help meet their nutritional needs and support their vivid coloring.

Tank Setup

Providing a suitable tank environment is crucial for the well-being of Ornate bichirs. They prefer slightly acidic to neutral water conditions, with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 8.0. The temperature should be maintained between 22°C and 28°C. Due to their length, which ranges from 30 cm to 60 cm, ample swimming space is essential. Since they can dwell at any level within the tank—from surface to bottom—it is important to offer a variety of habitats within the tank, such as caves and plants for hiding.

Ornate bichirs have a moderate level of maintenance requirements, needing regular tank cleaning and water changes to ensure a healthy living environment. Consider tank mates with similar environmental preferences and non-aggressive nature to prevent conflict.

Additional Information

The Ornate bichir is categorized as uncommon in aquarium trade, which may make them harder to find. They have a moderate popularity level among fish enthusiasts due to their unique appearance and dynamic behavior. As long as their specific care needs are met, Ornate bichirs can be an exciting and rewarding addition to a suitably sized aquarium.