All fish / Polypteridae

Mokele Mbembe Bichir

Polypterus mokelembembe

Also known as mokele mbembe bichir, mokelembembe bichir, congo bichir, dwarf spotted bichir, mokele bichir, ポリプテルス・モケレンベンベ, 莫氏多鳍鱼

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

A fairly small bichir with a long, snake-like body, a row of separate dorsal finlets and a golden brown base marked with dark blotches and fine spots. It was only described in 2006, and keepers prize it for its prehistoric look, attractive pattern and modest size compared with many relatives.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

30 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a group of several in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: earthworms, prawns, mussel, bloodworm, sinking carnivore pellets and fish fillet

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 20 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Central Congo River basin (DR Congo, Republic of Congo)

Breeding

Very rarely bred in captivity, and most fish in the trade are wild caught. Like other bichirs it is thought to scatter eggs among dense plants after the male cups the eggs with his anal fin, often triggered by cooler, softer water changes.

Good to know

It will eat any fish small enough to fit in its mouth, so keep it with robust tankmates of similar size. It is a skilled escape artist, so a tight-fitting lid with no gaps is essential, and it is easily confused with juvenile Polypterus ornatipinnis or P. weeksii.