New here -- source for bichirs and eels in Winnipeg?

[LydiaGreen]

Hello. I am SO happy to have found a forum with Canadian content!

We (my family) started out the usual way -- lots of mistakes -- 10 gallon tank and lots of goldfish for my son after BAD advice from someone who didn't have a clue. A few tank upgrades for the surviving and growing goldfish and we are now addicted to fish -- okay, I am now addicted to fish the family has no choice in the matter

I have a 55 on order -- all of the golds and the dojos will be going in there -- and a quote for a 375. Those two tanks and the 44 will be going into the "fish room". I have a LOT of work ahead of me though -- this is what I want to do with these tanks:

http://www.catfishheaven.net/day1.html

So, as you can see from what I want to do, things will be a while but, I was hoping for some advice from those in my area. I'm in Northwestern Ontario about 4 and a half hours from Winnipeg. I need a store with good, healthy prospects for fish to stock the 44 and the 375. I want three elephant-noses for the 44 and 3 bichirs (2 senegal and 1 albino senegal) and 2 peacock eels for the 375. I'll be looking for the elephant noses in approximately 4-6 months and the bichirs and eels in approximately 8-12 months. Hopefully you will have some advice on a reliable source for these beautiful creatures.

I have visited Fintastics in Winnipeg and was actually impressed with what I saw (including a beautiful teacup freshwater stingray, but if I spent $150 on it my husband would FREAK). But, I don't remember seeing any elephant noses or bichirs or eels. Does anyone know if these species can be found in Winnipeg? Thanks in advance for any advice or info. I appreciate it.

[Serge]

Welcome aboard, fellow canuck!




I know nothing about fresh water fishes tho, but good luck in your projects!!

[Zagz]

Welcome to AA!!!! I am from Sask and am [acronym:44ad67ed41="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:44ad67ed41].

[LydiaGreen]

Thanks for the welcome Zagz and Serge. I've learned a thing or two since joining... most importantly that there is a name for my addiction - [acronym:c345bafec4="Malaysian Trumpet Snails or Multiple Tank Syndrome, depending on context"]MTS[/acronym:c345bafec4]

[Toirtis]

Spencer Jack is in Winterpeg and has ornate bichirs for about $25 each, but I suspect that they are bigger than you wish to go (up to 27"). If you would not mind shipping, then it would be easy enough to ship you all those fish from Calgary [baby senegals would run about $7-$10 each, albinos about $15-$20 each, peacock eels about $5-$8 each, elephant-nose momyrids about $10-$15 each...plus about $60-$75 shipping to Winnipeg airport....and our teacup rays (although not always safe with bichirs) are only $40-$50 each out here....and no PST].

The one concern I would have (having plenty of experience with Polypterids) would be that the peacock eels would, until quite fully-grown (12"), be at some risk from the bichirs (12"-14").

You could go with a multi-bichir tank...say 3 albino senegals, 2 normals, 2-3 P. palmas polli, 1 P. delhezi and some catfish (some larger Synodontids) and 4-5 Ctenopoma acutirostre....that would make for a pretty and interesting 375.

By the by, welcome to the board!

[LydiaGreen]

Thank you Toirtis - alll of the info I had so far said that the bichirs would be okay with eels (or any other fish) as long as they were similar size. I guess I could hold off on transferring my goldfish to the 44 for awhile and keep the peacock eels in the 55 until they get large enough. Or, I might just go with the multi-bichir tank. My son wants to be a paleontologist and we have a penchant for anything that looks prehistoric. Did you know that bichirs as a species have remained relatively unchanged since the mezazoic era? They must be incredibly hardy and adaptable species to have survived this long without changing. Hardy, I like. Thanks for the source in Winnipeg. I went to the website and signed myself up for his mailing list. It will be awhile before I buy them, but I'd like to kind of get a feel for the source first and know that I will be getting quality specimens that will stand a chance surviving the 4.5 hour drive home (I have battery powered 02). Should I use the pleco and goldfish to help cycle the 375 when I get it up and running? My goldfish and pleco are all healthy, no problems but I thought I'd better ask - you know that whole cross-species illness thing?

[LydiaGreen]

Toirtis - a few websites say these fellas - 4-5 Ctenopoma acutirostre - only grow to 6-8". Would they be safe with bichirs and large cats?
Also, the Lima Shovelnose Catfish averages 12" in aquariums and you can keep 3 of them together as they are quite peaceful and social (says the info). Could I get 3 of these and none of the ctenopama acuitirostres? The catfish would keep things neat and tidy in there.

[Toirtis]

Originally Posted by LydiaGreen

Did you know that bichirs as a species have remained relatively unchanged since the mezazoic era?

I did....in fact, I have written a book on them (which is taking forever to see print, ****it). The fossil record on them (and relatives) is terribly poor, though...a shame, as I would love to own a few bichir fossils for display.

They must be incredibly hardy and adaptable species to have survived this long without changing. Hardy, I like.

Hardy they are....like the 24" female ornate that escaped one of my display tanks at a fish show a couple of years back....she was discovered scurrying about the hjall floor at 2am, popped back into her tank, and 5 hours later won 'best of show'.....or my friend's ornate that got its head stuck in a brick ornament (and since it could not surface to gulp air, was at risk of drowning)...my friend tried and tried to free it, but to no avail, so he took what he felt was his only remaining option and wrapped the fish and brick in a damp towel, took it out to the garage, hit the brick with a hammer to shatter it, dusted off the fish and put it back in his tank where it lived happily ever after.

Thanks for the source in Winnipeg. I went to the website and signed myself up for his mailing list.

Spencer gets some nice stuff (including rays), and his ornates are currently going for (at 4"-6") $22, plus he has a 25% off sale until the 15th, so $16.50 each.

I will be getting quality specimens that will stand a chance surviving the 4.5 hour drive home (I have battery powered 02).

No need to worry....bochors are nearly bomb-proof, and require no oxygenation....two summers ago I drove around doing errands with two 12" ornates in 4" of water in a plastic 'critter-carrier' in the back of my minivan for 4-5 hours, and they were quite happy and well when I released them into my tank at the end of the day.

Should I use the pleco and goldfish to help cycle the 375 when I get it up and running? My goldfish and pleco are all healthy, no problems but I thought I'd better ask - you know that whole cross-species illness thing?

Sure, although you would do better to fishless-cycle then toss in the pleco and some other cats to keep it cycled until the bichirs arrive....the goldfish will not really do well in the 77ºF-80ºF you will want the tank at.

[Toirtis]

Originally Posted by LydiaGreen

Toirtis - a few websites say these fellas - 4-5 Ctenopoma acutirostre - only grow to 6-8". Would they be safe with bichirs and large cats?

Safe with Senegal bichirs, any of the Polypterus palmas complex, P. delhezi, P. retropinnis ssp., P. weeksi....I would not trust them to not be eaten by large, mature P. ornatipinnis or P. endlicheri ssp., though. As far as 'large' cats go, it would depend on the species....large synodontods would be safe, as would largish 'raphael/talking' cats'

Also, the Lima Shovelnose Catfish averages 12" in aquariums and you can keep 3 of them together as they are quite peaceful and social (says the info). Could I get 3 of these and none of the ctenopama acuitirostres? The catfish would keep things neat and tidy in there.

Potentially, so long as the bichirs you chose were the same size or slightly larger (like palmas species, delhezi), although the limas may not appreciate the bichirs swimming habits (limas tend to prefer fairly slow, quite tanks), particulatly at night, when the bichirs are more active. Limas are predatory midwater fish, though, and not the best choices as a 'clean-up crew'.

[LydiaGreen]

Thank you so much for all of your help Toirtis -- I REALLY appreciate it. I just found out I might be up and running long before I thought I would be. My mother wants to give me the money to pay for all of this (we're completing an unfinished basement to do this remember = expensive). But, thank you again for all of your help and advice. Considering how very little information there is about bichirs out there, you'd think a publisher would WANT to fill that void. Send me a PM -WHEN- it gets published - I'll buy it!