Polypterus senegalus senegalus

[ctenopoma]

they live about 10-15 years and can grow an absolute max size of 12inches
they grow to about 7 inches in their first year (they can grow alot faster if well nourished) after that they grow extremly slowly.

 

[Dennis]

I have 3 senegals all 9 inches, 18 months old.

 

[cenecker]

I've had my senegal about five years. She hit 10" at about 18 months and hasn't grown an inch since. As for longevity I believe polys are pretty long-lived. I read a story in a fish magazine about an ornate that was over fifty years old. Anyone here have some concrete info on poly life span or are we all just saying fifteen years because thats what everyone says?

 

[Nubster]

Mines 5 years and counting. Had him all 5, thats the only thing keeping me from converting his tank to SW, I'm attached to the big lug.

 

[josh pelican]

In their natural habitat, some of them can hit 16 inches (not all of them will). In a tank, they'll probably get 12-14", depending on sex. Like everyone said, 15 years is a good estimate on their life span in an aquarium.

I once read about these guys living for 30 years and hitting 50 centimeters, but that sounds a bit over-exaggerated, especially if kept in an aquarium.