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"
(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"
(possible subspecies)P. senegalus meridionalis- 12"+
There is, Also the possibility of a third member of the Polypterus senegalus
group that is found in the Nile River
P. retropinnis ('retropinnis' bichir)- 14"
P .mokelembembe
P. weeksi ('week's' bichir)- 20"
P.teugelsi (found only in the Cross river)-16.75''
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. Bichir lapradei ('Lapradei' bichir)- 24"
P. bichir bichir-30+ ''
P.ansorgii-28-30''+
The above are the maximum size of wildcaught specimens
growth rates depend on various things includeing genetics btu they generaly
grow quickly depending on species smaller upper jaws usually slow growth
at approx 7-9inches adding girth not length-Anne
Im quite new to polys but ive got 4 (for the moment lol) my first was an ornate who was 4 inch when i got him on 5th july this year,hes now 8.25 inches but his growth has slowed down then i got another ornate on 18th november and he was 4.5 inch and now hes 5.5 inch and then on 22nd november i got 2 endlis they were 4.5 inch and 4.75 inch now the big one is 5.5 inches and the smaller one is 5 inches and they eat
Like pigs,not sure how these two types compare to senegals but it gives you an idea how quick they grow.
