Thickness

[Valheru]

Hi,

I've been considering getting a large sized Polypterus for a while now, but I haven't been able to see any up close before. So I wanted to ask, how thick or wide do they get in inches? I'd rather not lose my other fish just because they haven't grown enough.

Thanks.

 

[OTp1144]

My ornate is about the size of my forearm. She's pushing 18". Thickest I've seen is maybe 2.5-3" wide. But those are monsters!! Average is probably ~2"

 

[Dr.B]

It really depends on the species you get. They can get from a 10" Senegal to a 24"+ PBB.

 

[Valheru]

Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that I was looking for sizes on large sized bichirs 18" or up. Thanks for your answers, and I think I'll hold off on getting one until my fish have grown more.

 

[Burbotman]

Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that I was looking for sizes on large sized bichirs 18" or up. Thanks for your answers, and I think I'll hold off on getting one until my fish have grown more.

Type of bichir, will determine thickness to some extent. From my experience Laps would be on the more slender side relative to length. Endis and congicus on the thicker side. That said there can be huge variations within types. I have a 20" endi that looks like it swallowed a pop bottle! Huge belly on it. I have had slender ornates and real thick ones like my late 23" boy. One of the thickest polys I have seen is my giant weeksii which is massive right from snout to tail
I could only guess on measurements but wayyyy thicker than pop can

 

[Jake_Df]

If you don't wanna spend a million bucks youll prob get a baby or juvie at around 6'. hell be like 1/2' wide. a real big fish might eat em but most wont because they have some sick spines.

 

[Valheru]

Type of bichir, will determine thickness to some extent. From my experience Laps would be on the more slender side relative to length. Endis and congicus on the thicker side. That said there can be huge variations within types. I have a 20" endi that looks like it swallowed a pop bottle! Huge belly on it. I have had slender ornates and real thick ones like my late 23" boy. One of the thickest polys I have seen is my giant weeksii which is massive right from snout to tail
I could only guess on measurements but wayyyy thicker than pop can

I need to see one of these in real life, this sounds unbelievably huge.

If you don't wanna spend a million bucks youll prob get a baby or juvie at around 6'. hell be like 1/2' wide. a real big fish might eat em but most wont because they have some sick spines.

The only problem with me getting a baby is that most wild types don't come so small, or I haven't seen many below 10" in length. If I find some that are, relatively small, nice looking, and grow large, I will see if I can get my hands on them.