Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 12 minutes ago
Alex from Fathom Aquatics on bichirs, breeding, and aquarium 3D printing
Sean sits down with Alex from Fathom Aquatics for a wide-ranging conversation about fishkeeping, especially bichirs, and how a hobby can grow into a deep specialty. They cover Alex’s path from a barracks betta to multiple large fish rooms, plus the practical side of keeping, moving, breeding, and housing big predatory fish. The second half turns to 3D printing, where Alex explains how aquarium tools and plant racks became both useful hobby gear and a small business.
Key topics
In this episode, Alex shares how fishkeeping started with childhood tanks, then turned into a serious obsession while he was in the army and researching low-maintenance fish in the barracks.
He explains the jump from a 20 gallon community tank to a 55 gallon after realizing his livebearers were breeding heavily and a Senegal bichir had caught his attention.
The conversation breaks down the difference between common Senegal bichirs and larger species like an Endlicheri, and why Alex treats tank size as a real welfare issue rather than a future upgrade promise.
Alex describes building bigger systems, including a 125 gallon and eventually multiple 180s, and repurposing older 55s as sumps once they were no longer ideal display tanks.
Sean and Alex talk through bichir naming and terminology, including why “bichir” is often used casually, why “bashir” is closer to the original pronunciation, and why “dinosaur eel” is a misleading pet store label.
The conversation broadens to other fish Alex keeps, including swordtails, cories, killifish, and discus, plus the way fish club sharing and plant swaps lead to surprise fry in established systems.
Alex talks about duckweed as both a nuisance and a useful nutrient sink, along with its potential as a protein-rich food source in aquaponics and large-scale systems.
The last section focuses on Alex’s 3D printing work, especially aquarium plant pot racks, pothos baskets, and custom business cards that double as algae scrapers and conversation starters.
Timestamps
00:00 - Meet Alex from Fathom Aquatics and the Chattanooga swap connection
00:53 - From childhood fish tanks to army barracks research
02:05 - The first 20 gallon community tank and discovering bichirs
03:52 - Falling for Senegal bichirs and upgrading to a 55 gallon
05:34 - Growing out to a 125 gallon for larger bichirs
07:30 - Why Alex keeps chasing bigger tanks and wider footprints
11:56 - Using old 55s as sumps and preferring wider tank dimensions
15:09 - Correct pronunciation, the origin of “bashir,” and bad pet store names
17:30 - How big Senegal bichirs usually get in the trade
19:07 - Picking up a guppy-eating Senegal from a local seller
20:56 - A tugulusi, growing out bichirs, and keeping juveniles in smaller tanks
23:26 - Quarantine, egg crate barriers, and introducing adult bichirs
25:34 - Catching large bichirs with a trout net from Alex’s grandfather
26:41 - Using PVC to move fish without net stress
27:31 - Accidental ornate and Endlicheri hybrid breeding
28:45 - High-protein feeding and cooler water as breeding triggers
29:43 - Cannibalism, predators, and fry surviving in the sump
30:59 - How bichir eggs are handled and fertilized
32:32 - Swordtails, cories, and fish club sharing surprises
34:36 - Plant swaps, unexpected fry, and managing duckweed
38:51 - Duckweed at an aquaculture center and its role as a nutrient buffer
40:31 - Marine biology and sustainable aquaculture studies
43:38 - Why YouTube matters for niche fishkeeping education
44:37 - Visiting fish rooms and how Alex’s favorite setups keep evolving
46:34 - Killifish, discus, and watching breeding systems in action
49:23 - 3D printing aquarium plant racks and improving the design
54:41 - Scaling production with multiple printers
56:17 - Learning from breakage and redesigning stronger parts
57:35 - The appeal of turning an idea into a physical object fast
59:45 - Designing a 3D printed business card that works like an algae scraper
61:48 - Why the 3D printed card beats stickers for shows and swaps
65:03 - Alex’s YouTube, Instagram, and the Fish Fam discovery
67:14 - Why Sean may eventually try livestreaming
68:03 - Closing thoughts and Knoxville invitation
Notable quotes
“The signs have reached out to me.”
“I hate being limited.”
“What a time we live in now.”
Alex from Fathom Aquatics on bichirs, breeding, and aquarium 3D printing
Sean sits down with Alex from Fathom Aquatics for a wide-ranging conversation about fishkeeping, especially bichirs, and how a hobby can grow into a deep specialty. They cover Alex’s path from a barracks betta to multiple large fish rooms, plus the practical side of keeping, moving, breeding, and housing big predatory fish. The second half turns to 3D printing, where Alex explains how aquarium tools and plant racks became both useful hobby gear and a small business.
Key topics
In this episode, Alex shares how fishkeeping started with childhood tanks, then turned into a serious obsession while he was in the army and researching low-maintenance fish in the barracks.
He explains the jump from a 20 gallon community tank to a 55 gallon after realizing his livebearers were breeding heavily and a Senegal bichir had caught his attention.
The conversation breaks down the difference between common Senegal bichirs and larger species like an Endlicheri, and why Alex treats tank size as a real welfare issue rather than a future upgrade promise.
Alex describes building bigger systems, including a 125 gallon and eventually multiple 180s, and repurposing older 55s as sumps once they were no longer ideal display tanks.
Sean and Alex talk through bichir naming and terminology, including why “bichir” is often used casually, why “bashir” is closer to the original pronunciation, and why “dinosaur eel” is a misleading pet store label.
The conversation broadens to other fish Alex keeps, including swordtails, cories, killifish, and discus, plus the way fish club sharing and plant swaps lead to surprise fry in established systems.
Alex talks about duckweed as both a nuisance and a useful nutrient sink, along with its potential as a protein-rich food source in aquaponics and large-scale systems.
The last section focuses on Alex’s 3D printing work, especially aquarium plant pot racks, pothos baskets, and custom business cards that double as algae scrapers and conversation starters.
Timestamps
00:00 - Meet Alex from Fathom Aquatics and the Chattanooga swap connection
00:53 - From childhood fish tanks to army barracks research
02:05 - The first 20 gallon community tank and discovering bichirs
03:52 - Falling for Senegal bichirs and upgrading to a 55 gallon
05:34 - Growing out to a 125 gallon for larger bichirs
07:30 - Why Alex keeps chasing bigger tanks and wider footprints
11:56 - Using old 55s as sumps and preferring wider tank dimensions
15:09 - Correct pronunciation, the origin of “bashir,” and bad pet store names
17:30 - How big Senegal bichirs usually get in the trade
19:07 - Picking up a guppy-eating Senegal from a local seller
20:56 - A tugulusi, growing out bichirs, and keeping juveniles in smaller tanks
23:26 - Quarantine, egg crate barriers, and introducing adult bichirs
25:34 - Catching large bichirs with a trout net from Alex’s grandfather
26:41 - Using PVC to move fish without net stress
27:31 - Accidental ornate and Endlicheri hybrid breeding
28:45 - High-protein feeding and cooler water as breeding triggers
29:43 - Cannibalism, predators, and fry surviving in the sump
30:59 - How bichir eggs are handled and fertilized
32:32 - Swordtails, cories, and fish club sharing surprises
34:36 - Plant swaps, unexpected fry, and managing duckweed
38:51 - Duckweed at an aquaculture center and its role as a nutrient buffer
40:31 - Marine biology and sustainable aquaculture studies
43:38 - Why YouTube matters for niche fishkeeping education
44:37 - Visiting fish rooms and how Alex’s favorite setups keep evolving
46:34 - Killifish, discus, and watching breeding systems in action
49:23 - 3D printing aquarium plant racks and improving the design
54:41 - Scaling production with multiple printers
56:17 - Learning from breakage and redesigning stronger parts
57:35 - The appeal of turning an idea into a physical object fast
59:45 - Designing a 3D printed business card that works like an algae scraper
61:48 - Why the 3D printed card beats stickers for shows and swaps
65:03 - Alex’s YouTube, Instagram, and the Fish Fam discovery
67:14 - Why Sean may eventually try livestreaming
68:03 - Closing thoughts and Knoxville invitation
Notable quotes
“The signs have reached out to me.”
“I hate being limited.”
“What a time we live in now.”
