A special senegalus

[King-eL]

It probably got bit off by it sibling when they were young as baby bichirs at around 2-3" or smaller are very cannibalistic. They will try to bite each other as a source of protein to grow faster. Also baby bichirs are much more softer and easily being tear apart by others. That's common in bichirs to see some of those missing parts. Those that survive to adulthood end up looking like that. You don't normally see that kind of deformation as they die before they can pass 3"+. They end up as food to other of it's own kind. After all the strong survives.

 

[Chub_by]

It probably got bit off by it sibling when they were young as baby bichirs at around 2-3" or smaller are very cannibalistic. They will try to bite each other as a source of protein to grow faster. Also baby bichirs are much more softer and easily being tear apart by others. That's common in bichirs to see some of those missing parts. Those that survive to adulthood end up looking like that. You don't normally see that kind of deformation as they die before they can pass 3"+. They end up as food to other of it's own kind. After all the strong survives.

Also possible,but then the fins are very clean stumps. Nothing which even resembles bite marks..and as I mentioned,it is two fins on the same side of it's body.

 

[DariusAmurdarja]

I think it´s a genetic defect and not caused from biting at all.

 

[Chub_by]

I think it´s a genetic defect and not caused from biting at all.

Yeah i think so, too..I'll try to get better pics sometime this week

 

[bigmanadil]

Looks like genetic defect only
if it was chewed by some other bichir it would have grown
no need to worry about it just take good care of him
in wild he could not have survived in tank its fine

 

[ancientfins]

a bichir with defect is still cool for me,

 

[Desert Bus]

The final word on this matter, with references (of a sort)!

It is a genetic defect.

Polypterus can and do regrow entire fins, including the bony bits:
http://www.pnas.org/content/109/10/3838.abstract

The best part about this is the name of the gene involved, Sonic hedgehog:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_hedgehog

Edit:
Just realized I picked the least readable article about that. Google is your friend.