What is the biggest Specis of bichir?????? I have seen some pix of some that look like 16" long can any1 tell me what they are?????? the have like srtips on them and like a flat head. No pix srry i dont wana steal pix from any1
Biggest Bichir
- Thread starter FlammingWoodChuck
- Start date
Arguably the largest of all the bichirs is Polypterus endlicheri congicus which can reach up to 97cm (about 36 inches). There are historical reports of larger bichirs in the Nile River drainages reaching up to 5 feet but those are unsubstantiated.
The stripes and flat head would definitely indicate either Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri or Polypterus endlicheri congicus....unless the stripes are horizontal in which case it is probably one of the Polypterus bichir subspecies like P. bichir bichir (unlikely as these are really hard to get) or P. bichir lapradei. The Polypterus bichir subspecies are substantial bichirs as well....reaching up to and slightly over 30 inches.
-Joe
The stripes and flat head would definitely indicate either Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri or Polypterus endlicheri congicus....unless the stripes are horizontal in which case it is probably one of the Polypterus bichir subspecies like P. bichir bichir (unlikely as these are really hard to get) or P. bichir lapradei. The Polypterus bichir subspecies are substantial bichirs as well....reaching up to and slightly over 30 inches.
-Joe
Thx it was a Polypterus endlicheri congicus. Dose any1 know where I can get one??????? like Petsmart or Petco, or would i have to find a local fish store????
unless your fish store can get em youd probably have to order one from rehoboth aquatics in the buy & sell forum their great peeps to deal with i bought a ornate bichir from em and it arrived pretty quick and in perfect condition good luck hunting it down bro
PetsMart and PetCo don't usually get in the more 'exotic' bichirs. PetsMart sells baby Polypterus senegalus as 'Dinosaur Eels' for about $4.99 each and occasionally gets in Polypterus ornatipinnis babies which they sell as 'Ornate Eels' for $59.
I can heartily recommend Toyin at Rehoboth Aquatics for bichirs. I've purchased a number of fish from him and have always been more than satisfied with the fish I've gotten and the quality shipping.
-Joe
I can heartily recommend Toyin at Rehoboth Aquatics for bichirs. I've purchased a number of fish from him and have always been more than satisfied with the fish I've gotten and the quality shipping.
-Joe
Both, Toyin goes by the name "africanman"
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=85
http://www.rehobothaquatics.com/index2.html
I've group ordered from him twice and got nice fish.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=85
http://www.rehobothaquatics.com/index2.html
I've group ordered from him twice and got nice fish.
Species and sizes
maximum known sizes often smaller in captivity
Upper Jaw Species-Upper jaw protrudes past lower jaw
P. palmas palmas ('palmas' bichir)- 13"
(subspecies)P. palmas polli ('marbled bichir)- 14"(there seems to be enough evidence to promote this to its own species)
(subspecies) P. palmas buettikoferi ('buettikoferi' bichir)- 13"
P. ornatipinnis ('ornate' bichir)- 27"
P. delhezi ('armoured' or 'delhez's' bichir)- 14"
P. senegalus senegalus ('Senegal' or 'Cuiver's' bichir)- 12"
(subspecies)P. senegalus meridionalis- 12"
P. retropinnis retropinnis ('retropinnis' bichir)- 14"
(subspecies)P. retropinnis lowei ('Lowe's' bichir)- 12"
P. weeksi ('week's' bichir)- 20"
P.teugelsi(new species not described yet)
E. calabaricus ('Ropefish')- 15"-30" (Closer to 15''-20'' in captivity)
Lower Jaw Species-Lower protrudes past upper jaw
P. endlicheri endlicheri ('saddled' or 'red' bichir)- 32", possibly more
(subspecies)P. endlicheri congicus ('giant' or 'congo' bichir)- 39"
P. lapradei ('Lapradei' bichir)- 24"
P. bichir bichir-30+ ''
P.ansorgii*
*There are only 3 known examples to exist and they are in museums its possible
this species is extinct.
maximum known sizes often smaller in captivity
Upper Jaw Species-Upper jaw protrudes past lower jaw
P. palmas palmas ('palmas' bichir)- 13"
(subspecies)P. palmas polli ('marbled bichir)- 14"(there seems to be enough evidence to promote this to its own species)
(subspecies) P. palmas buettikoferi ('buettikoferi' bichir)- 13"
P. ornatipinnis ('ornate' bichir)- 27"
P. delhezi ('armoured' or 'delhez's' bichir)- 14"
P. senegalus senegalus ('Senegal' or 'Cuiver's' bichir)- 12"
(subspecies)P. senegalus meridionalis- 12"
P. retropinnis retropinnis ('retropinnis' bichir)- 14"
(subspecies)P. retropinnis lowei ('Lowe's' bichir)- 12"
P. weeksi ('week's' bichir)- 20"
P.teugelsi(new species not described yet)
E. calabaricus ('Ropefish')- 15"-30" (Closer to 15''-20'' in captivity)
Lower Jaw Species-Lower protrudes past upper jaw
P. endlicheri endlicheri ('saddled' or 'red' bichir)- 32", possibly more
(subspecies)P. endlicheri congicus ('giant' or 'congo' bichir)- 39"
P. lapradei ('Lapradei' bichir)- 24"
P. bichir bichir-30+ ''
P.ansorgii*
*There are only 3 known examples to exist and they are in museums its possible
this species is extinct.
