i noticed that the breathing intervalls are very different. My two senegals and the delhezi go up tp gulp air very often. I would say evry 10 minutes. The mokelembembe goes up maybe once in 2 hours. The lapradei breath very rarely on the surface and the two ornates are almost never going on the surface. Is there are known difference between the various polypterus species in how efficient they can use their gills?
breathing intervall in different polypterus species
- Thread starter DariusAmurdarja
- Start date
Breathing intervals can vary on different bichirs species, size, activity and O2 level. Most active bichirs will gulp air more as they use more oxygen and energy while most lazy bichirs can stay for many hours. With all my bichirs I noticed my ansorgii can stay longer. However bichirs that still have their external gills can actually stay even longer under. Weeksii and PBB can still attain external gills even as adults with high O2 level especially weeksii.
ive noticed my del and ornate go up for air all the time where as my moke and gold dust barely do, in fact i dont think ive ever seen the gold dust go up for air 
