Albino Polypterus Senegalus Bichir

Albino Polypterus Senegalus Bichir

Bichirs are living fossils belonging to the Polypteridae family.  They are one of the oldest living lineages leading to the bony fishes we know today. They are quite large and sturdy fish that can be semi-aggressive that require specific water parameters and large tanks.  They are recommended for intermediate to experienced aquarists as they require special attention with their carnivorous diet and tank conditions.

They are peculiar looking fish that can breathe air. They have paired lungs which help gas exchange in poorly oxygenated environments. They have two small openings on the top of their head called spiracles which they breath through. Bichirs are mainly found across freshwater environments in tropical Africa and the Nile River systems. They live in estuaries and floodplains with muddy waters and silted substrates.

Behaviour

These fish are bottom-dwellers, and will spend most of their time near the bottom of the tank. They are nocturnal animals and prefer feeding during the night. They have poor eyesight and rely mainly on their other senses to find food.

Another peculiar characteristic is that you will see them walking around on the substrate of your tank. Yes, you read correctly, they can walk! They can use their pectoral fins and tail to move around.

Tank Conditions

Minimum aquarium size should be 250 litres, but preferably 350 litres or more. A good rule of thumb is four litres of water for every cm of full-grown fish.

Tank substrate is an important choice. Gravel can be an option, however, is not usually found in their natural environment. Sand is the best option.

Don’t forget to put a tight cover on your aquarium as they will probably jump or crawl out of your tank.

You should leave some air space above the water at the top of the tank to allow your fish to breathe. As they can survive in low oxygenated water quite easily, they don’t have specific filtration or aeration requirements. However just like any other tank they still need a good filtration system to get rid of the toxic chemicals produced from leftover food.

Bichirs prefer shallow, swampy waters and can thrive in semi-brackish waters as well. Their build makes them suitable for this kind of habitat which is partially why they have remained unchanged for such a long period of time. Because of the murky waters where they come from these fish have very poor eyesight.

Compatibility

They usually do well with larger fish, such as Oscars, Blood Parrots, Flowerhorns, large Barbs, Knifefish, medium and large Catfish and large peaceful African cichlids.

Bichirs are predatory fish, with a moderately aggressive temperament. They are problematic when kept with smaller size fish, as they will nip at their fins or even eat them. However, they seem to have no problems sharing their tank with larger fish.

You can keep multiple Birchirs together. They will often form ‘poly piles’ and are quite sociable creatures. You’ll need a large aquarium, and all the fish should be a similar size.

Feeding

They are carnivorous fish and enjoy eating small vertebrates, crustaceans, insects and other small fishes.  It is better to feed them with live food rather than pellets or artificial food.  Feeding them live food will bring out their natural predatory behaviors. They are slow eaters and you can feed them bloodworms, frozen shrimps, carnivorous fish food, small fishes and small pieces of meat such as ox heart, or earthworms.

Care

Bichirs are quite hardy fish and will not present many troubles. Try to provide the best environment possible and you will have happy and healthy fish. They are susceptible to a few parasites such as internal flukes. Skin and gills flukes are quite common, for example Macrogyrodactylus polyptery which resembles fine threads on their skin. The fish might start rubbing and rolling around and can be treated using some medication.

See Fish Disease Diagnosis and Treatment at Rebel Pets for help with diagnosing and treating diseases.