Polypterus hybrid Lap X Endli

[Hao]

Just wanted to share and use this thread as a place to document my hybrid Polypterus growth/development. It’s a Polypterus hybrid between Polypterus bichir (lapradei) and Polypterus endlicheri as known as Lapen or Lap x En for short.

Originally I bought a whole group of them, but I ended up only keeping one.

December 21, 2024 (Day 1): They were about 9-10 cm / 3.5”-4”





Notice how small they are compared to the Platinum endlicheri for future reference.



December 31, 2024



January 2, 2025



January 4, 2025 - check out those external gills! Group shot.


January 6, 2025 - At this size, they were growing extremely fast!




January 8th, 2025



January 12, 2025


January 16, 2025

 

[Hao]

January 18, 2025 - by this time it’s been about a month. Look at how much they’ve grown! Compare it to the group photo and platinum endlicheri photo in the original post!





January 19, 2025



January 21, 2025




February 6, 2025



February 19, 2025


February 22, 2025 - I believe by this point was roughly 2 months since day 1 and it was approximately 22cm / 8.75”-9”. Grown a lot since day 1.



March 6, 2025


March 10, 2025 - I believe it was about 24 cm / 9.5” and around this time I believe it started to plateau for few months.

 

[Hao]

March 20, 2025 - like I was saying from the end of the last post, growth was plateaued for some time moving forward. It was eating much less than before too.



April 3, 2024 - I was moving it back and forth to see where it would do best.


April 12, 2025



May 17, 2025


May 28, 2025 - by this point I remember it was starting to eat alot again and started growing slowly. I want to say it was around 25cm / 10” now.




June 15, 2025



June 18, 2025


July 5, 2025




July 9, 2025 - starting to bulk up!

 

[Hao]

July 19th, 2025 - starting to eat more and continue growing slowly!



August 5, 2025



August 12, 2025


August 16, 2025


August 26, 2025


August 27, 2025



August 30, 2025


September 20, 2025




September 23, 2025


September 27, 2025- starting to look like it gained some length.


October 2, 2025 - finally got a tape shot, appeared to be 34cm / 13” by this point!

 

[Hao]

October 4, 2025




October 12, 2025- little over 35 cm / 13.75”


October 14, 2025



October 27, 2025



November 10, 2025 - check out that headshape, looks almost like a wild caught specimen!


November 11, 2025



December 13, 2025


December 14, 2025 - look how big it’s gotten compared to the original post! It’s pretty much been a year!


December 16, 2025




December 22, 2025 - after a year it seems to be right at 38 cm / 15”.


That was a lot of photos! Hopefully you’ll continue to tune in from time to time. I’ll continue to update this beast of a specimen over time. Definitely one of my favorite Polypterus.

 

[danotaylor]

Fantastic thread & series of pics mate!
I've never kept bichir. Very interesting that they have external gills as infants, then not as adults. Between Feb 22 & Mar 6 the external gills disappear. Do the external gill protrusions drop off, shrink away, somehow retract under the gill plate? Very interesting physical transformation!
Thanks for sharing. Will keep up on this thread for sure

 

[Burbotman]

Great post Hao, it is a fantastic reference on early stage Bichir growth and development. It has grown into an absolute stunner. Look forward to seeing how it matures over the next couple of years

 

[Hao]

Fantastic thread & series of pics mate!
I've never kept bichir. Very interesting that they have external gills as infants, then not as adults. Between Feb 22 & Mar 6 the external gills disappear. Do the external gill protrusions drop off, shrink away, somehow retract under the gill plate? Very interesting physical transformation!
Thanks for sharing. Will keep up on this thread for sure

I believe the external gills shrink and retract under the gill plate but I'm not 100% sure to be honest.

 

[benzjamin13]

Nice growth! That's a nice looking hybrid as well. Honestly, if you didn't mention it being a hybrid, I would've just thought it was an Endli.

 

[Hao]

Nice growth! That's a nice looking hybrid as well. Honestly, if you didn't mention it being a hybrid, I would've just thought it was an Endli.

Thanks. Yeah majority of the Lapens out there have strong endlicheri genes. CB endlicheris typically don't have these types of pattern or facial markings and headshape though.
Here is some photos of the lapen next to a Polypterus sp. “Dabola” (suspected wild hybrid of Guinean endli x Guinean lap, Japanese hobbyist actually call them “Guinean Lapen”).
Pretty similar when you see them side by side. The sp. “Dabola” is abit faded in this tank. Markings were much more bold in my other tank.