question

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aravenschild

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 17, 2007
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missouri,usa
Need some answers please...
I've been reading up on these guys (bichirs), mostly on your web sight and had a few questions...
I am thinking of getting a couple of these monsters. Which would be an easy species to find and keep for someone just beginning with these? And what should I look for? Are there types that stay fairly small (around 12 inches). What other names could they be listed under? You know lfs like to "fancy up" the name.
Would a forty breeder with glass top be a good starter tank for these guys? I understand they like lots of hiding places, so I thought the forty would have more floor space. Do they prefer gravel or sand?
Any help would be appreciated, thanks
 
I'm no expert, but from what I've read Senegal Bichirs stay at a small size ~12-14", I see them all the time in my LFS and I would say that they're pretty common, and I think that they're pretty easy to care for. A 40 breeder is like 36"L and 18"W right?
 
Polypterus senegalus are a great starter bichir they are active during the day
and seem to be naturaly curious about goings on in their tank,they are not the most attractive but they are the cheapest and most commonly available.
Common names;
dinosaur bichir ($5.99 at petsmart and most stores)
senegal bichir
A 40 breeder is a great tank for bichirs.bichirs need lenght and width not water depth (10-12inches of water depth is fine for most species)
As for substrate sand is fine bichirs like most fish are suction feeders and gravel if ingested can cause intestinal blockages sand will pass thru the digestive tract.
below is a list of 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
There are a couple of as-yet-undescribed (scientifically) Polypterids
Variations
There are variations of the above including
short bodied:jsut as stated the body is shorter
longfinned:As you can guess the finnage is longer than normal
albinoism:Albino Polypterids have a pink/ white body with red eyes if they are a species with pronounced markings
these are often yellowish in color
leustic:Leustic (platinum) are silver/whitish bodies with black eyes.-Anne
 
yup
 
yeah my first bichir was a senagal which i have in a 40 gallon (regular) with a knifefish, and they are addicting, hoping to get another. there is the albino senagal which is also fairly common and only get 10in. so you could get a few of those. or maybe three different species like senagal, palmas polli, and a del and a small tankmate like an african butterfly fish, it would be overstocked eventually, but......
 
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