WANTED: Polypterus Education

[Aquarium_Fish]

There are a few things I haven't figured out as of yet ...

1. what is the difference between long and short finned?
2. what is the difference between a male & female Bichir?
3. What is the difference between a Short Bodied Endli and a regular one (just a fatter head)?
4. I bought a Bichir that was named a Brown Bichir ... it looks like my other Senegal - is there a difference or is it just another name for one?
5. Why would a small Ornate cost 2 times more than a Brown Bichir that is twice as long?

If you got photos to show differences - that would help a lot ...

I hate trying to comment on peoples new bichirs when I don't know what I am seeing! It would be my luck I would say "WOW NICE" and it is a mutant ...

I am a visual learner ... and I keep looking but it isn't clicking for me ...

Thanks in advance!

 

[jdryden]

long vs short= long finned are genetic mutations resulting in long flowing fins
male and female= the anal fin is larger/broader/thicker in males
short body= another genetic mutation resulting in a disproportionaly short body, kinda like dwarfism in fish
brown bichir= without seeing, I'm guessing just another name for a senegal which have multiple common names: Cuvier's, Gray, Dragon eel, etc
ornate price= supply vs demand, senegals are farm raised and commonly available most places, ornates are rarer (not rare) and more sought after, resulting in a higher price

If you do a search, you should be able to find pics showing most of the differences that you are looking for.

 

[beblondie]

Q. bought a Bichir that was named a Brown Bichir ... it looks like my other Senegal - is there a difference or is it just another name for one?

A.Your brown bichir is just a diferent color phase of normal senegals that range in color from olive drab to gray.

Q.Why would a small Ornate cost 2 times more than a Brown Bichir that is twice as long?
A.Ornates are also being captive bred the difference is Senegals reach breeding age at approx 1 year of age.Ornates may have to be 4-6 years of age to reach breeding age.

If you probe the sticky section theres bound to be pictures of the polypterids you asked about in this link
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23151

 

[JESToner]

There are a few things I haven't figured out as of yet ...

1. what is the difference between long and short finned?
2. what is the difference between a male & female Bichir?
3. What is the difference between a Short Bodied Endli and a regular one (just a fatter head)?
4. I bought a Bichir that was named a Brown Bichir ... it looks like my other Senegal - is there a difference or is it just another name for one?
5. Why would a small Ornate cost 2 times more than a Brown Bichir that is twice as long?

If you got photos to show differences - that would help a lot ...

I hate trying to comment on peoples new bichirs when I don't know what I am seeing! It would be my luck I would say "WOW NICE" and it is a mutant ...

I am a visual learner ... and I keep looking but it isn't clicking for me ...

Thanks in advance!

1. short finned are regular bichirs, long finned... have longer fins
2. there is a picture in the sticky thread anne posted, males have a broad leaf shaped fin and females have a thinner anal fin
3. short bodied bichirs have... shorter bodies, looks like a midget bichir
4.its just a senegalus
5. ornates are harder to find generally, senegals are all over the place, even pets mart has them

 

[Oddball]

ANd don't forget that senegals will reach about the 1 foot mark while ornates can easily reach and pass the 2 foot mark.

 

[killerfish]

1.short fins are normal and long fins have long streaming fins
2. look at the end of your bichir by the tail theres a small fin males have a much larger one then females cheack the sticky at the top of the polypterus section
3. short body bichirs are just what the name is short they are much shorter and fatter then normal bichirs
4.most likely anouther senegal this is the proublem with common names people lable all kinds of fish all kinds of things but if your not sure trying googleing senegal bichir and look at the pics if still not sure you can post a pic here and we will tell you what fish you have
5.ornates are harder to breed in captivity and look much better so the demand is higher also senegals are beeing farmed all over the place so they are eazy to get so they are cheaper it all comes down to supplie and demand really

 

[is300zx]

ornates are also farm bred although probably at a slower rate as they do with senegals. at my lfs, ornates, senegals, and dels cost about the same.