All fish / Polypteridae

Senegal Bichir

Polypterus senegalus

Also known as gray bichir, grey bichir, cuvier's bichir, dinosaur eel, dragon fin, albino senegal bichir, senegal birchir, dinosaur bichir, ปลาบิเชียร์, ikan dinosaur, ポリプテルス・セネガルス, ikan dinosaurus

An elongated, grey to olive fish with a row of small finlets along its back, paired lungs and a primitive look that earns it the nickname dinosaur eel. It is hardy, full of character and one of the smallest and most widely sold bichirs, with an albino form also common.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

30 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

250 litres

Keep as

Alone or in a small group with plenty of cover

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

West and Central Africa: Senegal, Gambia, Niger, Chad and Nile basins, Lake Turkana

Breeding

Eggs are scattered among fine-leaved plants after the male cups his anal fin around the female's vent to fertilise them. Captive breeding is uncommon in home tanks, though it is done commercially, often helped by cooler water changes that imitate the rainy season.

Good to know

It will eat any fish small enough to fit in its mouth, and it is an expert escape artist, so a tight-fitting lid with no gaps is essential. It needs access to the surface to gulp air.