Pics of new Polypterus ornatipinnis

[Jason_S]

:) This guy is ~5" or slightly larger.

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68510-001.jpg

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68510-002.jpg

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68510-003.jpg

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68510-004.jpg

[Jason_S]

:) The palmas polli was the smallest of the 3 I just got at ~4.5-5". The ornatipinnis is ~5" or slightly larger. :)

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68511-001.jpg

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68511-002.jpg

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68511-003.jpg

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68511-004.jpg

This last shot is of both the P. palmas polli and P. ornatipinnis. :)

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68511-005.jpg

[Jason_S]

This guy is gorgeous and is ~7-8".

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68512-001.jpg

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68512-002.jpg

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68512-003.jpg

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68512-004.jpg

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-09-23/68512-005.jpg

[recycling goddess]

oh wow, he is beautiful. what's his temperment? and other requirements?

[Jason_S]

so far he's very mild mannered like most bichirs, he's pretty active and he apparently likes to take long walks around the fish room. I found him today behind my 125 gallon fish tank which is on the opposite side of the room as the tank he is supposed to be in. luckily I found him before he dried out...I put him back in the tank and he swam off. I went to take a close look at him a bit later and I swear he was grinning at me. I think he's mocking me. LOL

anyway, I believe he'll grow to approx. 14" or so, so a 75 gallon should be minimum. they breathe from the surface just like gouramis and bettas so it's not overly important that the water be rich in oxygen. they shouldn't be kept with anything that can fit in their mouths cause they will eat smaller fish. they prefer a meaty diet and will usually accept frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, beefheart and any sinking carniverous, meaty pellet. :) also, keep the tank covered very well. even the smallest little hole can lead to a dried up bichir on the floor. they are prolific jumpers so there should be absolutely no open space at the top of the tank. :)

[Tvirus]

yea i had the same problem with an fresh water morray eel exept i had him in brackish water and the slick eel jumped out and stayed there for at least 30 min before i relized he jumped out

[recycling goddess]

i saw two of these beauties at my LFS the other day... oh i wanted to bring them home but i'll settle for my weather loaches. ;)

my tank has too many tetras and small rasboras in it for a bichir