All fish / Polypteridae

Guinean bichir

Polypterus ansorgii

Also known as ansorgii bichir, ansorge's bichir, guinea bichir, ansorgei bichir, polypterus ansorgei, ポリプテルス・アンソルギー, 安哥拉恐龙

A large, rarely seen bichir with a long, eel-like body, a row of small dorsal finlets and a dark brown body marked with irregular bars and a pale yellowish belly. Keepers value it as one of the biggest and most impressive members of the genus, and for its primitive, prehistoric look and air-breathing habits.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

50 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

800 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a group in a very large tank

Diet

Carnivore: fish fillet, prawns, earthworms, mussels, sinking carnivore pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

15 to 20 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

West Africa: Guinea-Bissau and Guinea coastal rivers (Corubal, Geba basins)

Breeding

Captive breeding has not been reliably documented. Like other bichirs it is thought to scatter eggs among dense vegetation during the rainy season, with larvae bearing external gills.

Good to know

It grows large and will eat any fish small enough to swallow, so plan for a very large tank with a tight lid as bichirs can escape. Wild stock is scarce and often confused with Polypterus endlicherii or P. bichir, so check identity before paying premium prices.