Senegal bichirs and convict cichlid feeding question      3/22/16
Hello and thank you for always having such great answers!
<Glad to help.>
I apologize in advance if the answer to my question can be found somewhere here.
<WWM has built in Google search, try to use that ahead of time, most stuff is covered already someplace or other. Try http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/polypterids.htm>
I currently have a 55 gal with two juvenile Senegal bichirs (5in or so) and a convict cichlid. They have lived together since they were very small and have got along well. My convict is generally very docile and previously was bullied by other cichlids, so he and the bichirs enjoy a peaceful life. My question is, what would an ideal food be to offer to both species?
<Well, the more important concern here is that there is rarely a case where a non-obligate feeder should be fed the same thing all the time. We need to find our captive critters with variety more than homing in on a perfect
food as such. You wouldn't feed a person just one food all the time no matter how healthy it is. One thing can rarely solve all nutritional needs (despite advertising to the contrary!). Another thing to consider is stimulation and behavior. As you have noted, these are very interesting fishes behaviorally and IMO the behavior and "personality" of a fish are more important than beauty. Bichirs are a really unusual and unique ancient fish of which only a few other kinds of extant compatriots still exist. So while as a rule it's a bad idea (for several reasons) to feed live food, I would certainly make an exception for this species due to its being essentially a species tank, your correct idea that specific prey are key, and that their behavior is such a big draw for you (me too).>
I have typically fed them frozen bloodworms which they all enjoy and seem to thrive on, but the diet I've seen you recommend for bichirs seems much more varied and likely better.
<The more varied, the better! Stimulation, more natural, laid-back behavior, nutrition. The link above gives a good list of foods, some of which seem surprising. Mealworms! Convenient to get at any pet store...try them live. I would be a little leery of all the pond-acquirable things that they would like such as small frogs due to water pollution in the wild. The more types of meaty food, the better, rotate them.>
I also have given cichlid pellets on occasion with all parties satisfied. I am wary of my more sensitive cichlid having issues with bichir food. I have fed the tank with feeder guppies (apparently a big no no) with no ill effects that I have
seen and they do all appear to enjoy the thrill of the hunt... second part to my long winded question- I recently started a tank of feeder guppies separately and they have begun to breed. I am fortunate that my local pet store has their own breeder tank; the guppies I purchased are definitely more healthy than ones typically seen at big box pet stores.
<Home-grown feeder animals of any kind are usually better due to control-ability of what they eat, and keeping out who knows what pests a retailer may have. And cheaper in the long haul! Certainly worthwhile as long as they are fed well themselves and are not used as a daily fare due to the above concerns. -Earl >
If I fatten these guppies up and continue to keep a healthy adult population growing, is this acceptable fare for my tank? Watching the bichirs hunt is one of the most entertaining things I've ever witnessed :)
Thank you in advance!
Alyssa Stone
re: Senegal bichirs and convict cichlid feeding question      3/22/16
Thank you for such a quick and thorough reply, I really appreciate it! My spikers (bichirs) appreciate it too :D