Bichir coils like a snake!?

[Wrightt3]

I noticed something quite extraordinary earlier today. My Senegal Bichir looked as if it was wrapping itself around my pike cichlid! (similarly to how a snake coils around its prey). It wasn't coiled round him very tightly and he had no problem escaping but it did look quite amazing. Has anyone else ever experienced something like this?

 

[floydlevi]

Mine just pretends to be a piece of wood all the time.

Sent from my LG-MS690 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[Dr.B]

polypterus are not built to be constrictors like snakes. This was probably just the pike getting in the way of the poly turning. However it just shows how cool the creatures really are.

 

[Wrightt3]

polypterus are not built to be constrictors like snakes. This was probably just the pike getting in the way of the poly turning. However it just shows how cool the creatures really are.

Yeah, bichirs really are something special. Mine has to be one of my favourite fish. I'm hoping to move him from my 35g to a 60g when I get one (if I get one) if not I may have to rehome him

 

[-DC-]

they dont constrict , however I've seen coiling (or balling) behavior with bichirs during courtship, perhaps you have a friskey little fellow who was trying his luck with a pike lol

 

[mikehagan]

they dont constrict , however I've seen coiling (or balling) behavior with bichirs during courtship, perhaps you have a friskey little fellow who was trying his luck with a pike lol

This sort of behavior seems to be quite common with senegals recently.