All fish / Polypteridae

Congo Bichir

Polypterus congicus

Also known as congo bichir, congicus bichir, polypterus congicus, congo birchir, congicus, ปลาไบเคอร์คองกิคัส, ポリプテルス・コンギカス, 刚果恐龙, 刚果多鳍鱼

A large, eel-like bichir with a row of small dorsal finlets, a pale tan to yellowish body covered in dark spots or blotches, and lungs that let it gulp air at the surface. Keepers value it as a prehistoric-looking showpiece predator for large tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

60 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.8

Smallest tank

1000 litres

Keep as

Single specimen, or a few in a very large tank with plenty of cover

Diet

Carnivore: fish fillet, prawns, earthworms, mussels, sinking carnivore pellets and frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

15 to 30 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Congo River basin and Lake Tanganyika (DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Tanzania, Zambia)

Breeding

Breeding in aquariums is very rare and poorly documented; like other bichirs it is believed to scatter eggs among dense plants in the rainy season. Most fish in the trade are wild caught.

Good to know

It can reach 70 cm or more and will eat any tankmate small enough to swallow, so plan for a very large tank from the start. Use a tight-fitting lid because bichirs can escape through small gaps, and note it is often mixed up with Polypterus endlicherii.