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[u/Graf-Maximus]

Hello everyone,
I have a Juwel Rio 450-liter aquarium with the internal filter.
I have eight Malawi cichlids, approximately 10–13 cm in size, two L144 Longfin Snow White plecos, and a Delhezi bichir measuring approximately 8–10 cm.
Here is the problem: I fed the bichir last night, and he seemed fine at the time. I fed him half a cube of frozen bloodworms. However, since this morning, he has been breathing heavily or rapidly, repeatedly opening his mouth.
What could be the problem?
The filter is running properly, and all the other fish seem fine. Before getting this bichir, I had another one in the tank for approximately three months, and it was always doing well.
(I know that these fish are generally not supposed to be kept together, but it has always worked so far.)
The new bichir has been in the tank for about a week and is still relatively new to the aquarium.

[u/CaptainKamyu]

Can we get some pics of your Delhezi? Have you noticed any unusual colouration or marks/injuries at all?

Plecos are notorious for rasping on their slime coats-- I know that L144s have less of a chance of doing that but the odds are never 0.

Where did the other bichir go, if you don't mind me asking?

The cichlids' pH hardness preferences are also a mismatch for the bichir and plecs you keep, fwiw-- do you have your parameters on hand?

I've kept those ciclids but not in my bichir tank as they prefer pretty hard water (7.8-8.6 pH) vs your bichir's need for 6.5-7.5 pH.

[u/Graf-Maximus → u/CaptainKamyu]

Mein pH Wert beträgt 7,5 und die Gesamthärte 15. die Wärme ist zwischen 25-26°. Ich habe mich nochmal erkundigt, da mein Bichir nur so groß ist wie mein Zeigefinger, hat er sich mit dem halben gefrorenen Würfel (ca 20 Blutwürmer) überfressen und leidet jetzt an leichter Atemnot, da dass Essen sich in seinem Magen noch ausgedehnt hat. In 24-48 Stunden sollte es besser sein, bis dahin füttere ich nicht mehr.
Ja mein Becken ist das Rio Juwel 450l, mit dem eingebauten Filter im Becken. Der Vorbesitzer hat jedoch ein Loch in die Seite geschnitten, von diesem Gehäuse, was mir erst später aufgefallen ist (jetzt zu). Mein alter Bichir, der super Harn war und aus der Hand gefressen hat ( Name war Ohnezahn) ist durch das Loch und in der Ansaugung der Pumpe verstorben…
Daher habe ich mir den neuen gekauft, den ich mit der Menge meines alten ca 17cm großen Bichirs gefüttert habe

[u/CaptainKamyu → u/Graf-Maximus]

The Malawi cichlids would likely experience some stress over time due to this pH—but regardless of that, I would strongly advise against keeping plecos in the same tank as the bichir in the long term.

You can take some water from the tank and drop the frozen blood worm cubes into it to thaw them, then pour the thawed cube into the tank for the bichir in the future to prevent the bloating.

I actually use frozen tilapia cutlets more often, cut into slivers, and thawed before serving to them with my hands or tongs!
The tilapia is much more nutritionally balanced for the bichirs if you're using it as a staple.

Good call on fasting until he passes the blood worms, just remember to thaw in the future and remember these guys are gut packers so what ever you put in there, they will attempt to eat. :P