Endlicheri Color question?

[Stanv03]

I saw this guy/gal at my LFS yesterday, but they told me that they’ve had it for about 2 weeks and it’s been that color. They told me they don’t know why it’s dark and don’t know if it’ll stay like that or go to the normal endlicheri color. They had 3 of them, but the other 2 were like 2-3 inches and were that normal sandish color this one is like this one is like, I’d say around 6 inches? This one was the only dark one, any idea on why it’s dark? And If it’ll change or stay? TIA!!

 

[Deadeye]

Was he being kept in a tank with dark substrate or light substrate? Fish will change colors to blend in to their surroundings.

 

[Stanv03]

Was he being kept in a tank with dark substrate or light substrate? Fish will change colors to blend in to their surroundings.

Back ground was black but substrate was tan color.

 

[Hao]

Most likely this fish is missing an eye, or both. If both eyes are intact, possibly one or both eye is damaged.

 

[Stanv03]

Most likely this fish is missing an eye, or both. If both eyes are intact, possibly one or both eye is damaged.

Would there be any possible way of testing that? I’m curious to find out if possible! Poor dude, I believe some one traded it in because all my LFS don’t get bichirs any bigger than 2.5 maybe 3 inches. Unless they’re superrrr lucky and the distributor sends them one

 

[tlindsey]

Would there be any possible way of testing that?

You would have to observe it and see if it bumps into something. Bichir don't need to use thier eyes to find food they have a great sense of smell. I think Hao is right on the money he's been keeping Polypterus for years.

 

[Stanv03]

Most likely this fish is missing an eye, or both. If both eyes are intact, possibly one or both eye is damaged.

You would have to observe it and see if it bumps into something. Bichir don't need to use thier eyes to find food they have a great sense of smell. I think Hao is right on the money he's been keeping Polypterus for years.

I tried the same question in a different forum called FishLore.com and I had someone tell me it might me a melanistic Endlicheri, hmmm I’ve never heard of one but I’d like to look into it as well!

 

[Polypterus_36]

I tried the same question in a different forum called FishLore.com and I had someone tell me it might me a melanistic Endlicheri, hmmm I’ve never heard of one but I’d like to look into it as well!

Most "melanistic" bichirs are just blind. The same thing goes with gars.
Because the fish is blind all it sees is black, so they match their colors to their surrondings which is black.
The bichir being blind won't really hurt it so much, since they mainly rely on their sense of smell to find food.

 

[Stanv03]

Most "melanistic" bichirs are just blind. The same thing goes with gars.
Because the fish is blind all it sees is black, so they match their colors to their surrondings which is black.
The bichir being blind won't really hurt it so much, since they mainly rely on their sense of smell to find food.

If I do end up keeping this guy/gal long term What would be a good name for it? And would they be rare compared to normal endlis

 

[Polypterus_36]

If I do end up keeping this guy/gal long term What would be a good name for it? And would they be rare compared to normal endlis

Name it Toothless.
I would consider it rarer for sure. Idk how much you paid for it, but most people would upcharge for the unique color even though the color isnt from the fish's genetics.
Here's a good example of one:
You can see that the bichir has no eyes.

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