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Genus

Polypterus

Species
9
Photographed
0 of 9
Difficulty rated
8 of 9

Polypterus bichir bichirNile Bichir

authority not recorded

Max length
720mm SL28in SL
Tank
180 × 60cm72 × 24in
Temp
22–28°C72–82°F
pH
6.0–8.0

An incredibly hardy, nocturnal species with very poor vision, P. delhezi relies on its excellent sense of smell to locate food. This species, along with others of its genus, is one of the last surviving relatives of very ancient species. Fossils of earlier relatives have been found that date back to the Triassic Period, which occured during the early development of the dinosaurs more than 200 million years ago. They have several interesting adaptations. The swim bladder is divided into 2 par...

Moderate

Polypterus delheziArmoured Bichir

authority not recorded

Max length
350mm SL14in SL
Tank
120 × 45cm48 × 18in
Temp
24–30°C75–86°F
pH
6.0–8.0

An incredibly hardy, nocturnal species with very poor vision, P. delhezi relies on its excellent sense of smell to locate food. This species, along with others of its genus, is one of the last surviving relatives of very ancient species. Fossils of earlier relatives have been found that date back to the Triassic Period, which occured during the early development of the dinosaurs more than 200 million years ago. They have several interesting adaptations. The swim bladder is divided into 2 par...

Easy

Polypterus endlicheri endlicheriSaddled Bichir

authority not recorded

Max length
750mm SL30in SL
Tank
210 × 120cm84 × 48in
Temp
22–27°C72–81°F
pH
6.0–8.0

An incredibly hardy, nocturnal species with very poor vision, P. endlicheri endlicheri relies on its excellent sense of smell to locate food. This species, along with others of its genus, are some of the last surviving relatives of very ancient species. Fossils of earlier relatives have been found that date back to the Triassic Period, which occured during the early development of the dinosaurs more than 200 million years ago. They have several interesting adaptations. The swim bladder is div...

Moderate

Polypterus ornatapinnisOrnate Bichir

authority not recorded

Max length
600mm SL24in SL
Tank
180 × 60cm72 × 24in
Temp
25–28°C77–82°F
pH
6.0–8.0

An incredibly hardy, nocturnal species with very poor vision, []iP. ornatapinnis relies on its excellent sense of smell to locate food. This species along with others of its genus are some of the last surviving relatives of very ancient species. Fossils of earlier relatives have been found that date back to the Triassic Period, which occured during the early development of the dinosaurs more than 200 million years ago. They have several interesting adaptations. The swim bladder is divided int...

Moderate

Polypterus palmas palmasMarbled Bichir

authority not recorded

Max length
325mm SL13in SL
Tank
120 × 45cm48 × 18in
Temp
25–28°C77–82°F
pH
6.0–7.0

An incredibly hardy, nocturnal species with very poor vision, P. delhezi relies on its excellent sense of smell to locate food. This species, along with others of its genus, is one of the last surviving relatives of very ancient species. Fossils of earlier relatives have been found that date back to the Triassic Period, which occured during the early development of the dinosaurs more than 200 million years ago. They have several interesting adaptations. The swim bladder is divided into 2 par...

Moderate

Polypterus retropinnisWest African Bichir

authority not recorded

Max length
350mm SL14in SL
Tank
120 × 45cm48 × 18in
Temp
25–28°C77–82°F
pH
6.0–8.0

Also known as the Speckled Bichir, this is an incredibly hardy, nocturnal species with very poor vision. P. retropinnis relies on its excellent sense of smell to locate food. This species along with others of its genus are some of the last surviving relatives of very ancient species. Fossils of earlier relatives have been found that date back to the Triassic Period, which occured during the early development of the dinosaurs more than 200 million years ago. They have several interesting adapt...

Moderate

Polypterus senegalus senegalusSenegal Bichir

authority not recorded

Max length
500mm SL20in SL
Tank
150 × 60cm60 × 24in
Temp
24–28°C75–82°F
pH
6.2–7.8

An incredibly hardy, nocturnal species with very poor vision, P. senegalus relies on its excellent sense of smell to locate food. This species, along with others of its genus, are some of the last surviving relatives of very ancient species. Fossils of earlier relatives have been found that date back to the Triassic Period, which occured during the early development of the dinosaurs more than 200 million years ago. They have several interesting adaptations. The swim bladder is divided into 2 ...

Moderate

Polypterus teugelsi

authority not recorded

Max length
400mm SL16in SL
Tank
150 × 60cm60 × 24in
Temp
25–28°C77–82°F
pH
7.0–7.5

An incredibly hardy, nocturnal species with very poor vision, P. teugseli relies on its excellent sense of smell to locate food. This species along with others of its genus are some of the last surviving relatives of very ancient species. Fossils of earlier relatives have been found that date back to the Triassic Period, which occured during the early development of the dinosaurs more than 200 million years ago. They have several interesting adaptations. The swim bladder is divided into 2 parts...

Difficult

Polypterus weeksiiMottled Bichir

authority not recorded

Max length
550mm SL22in SL
Tank
150 × 60cm60 × 24in
Temp
not recorded
pH
not recorded

P. weeksii is one of the "upper-jawed" tribe of polypterids so named on account of the upper jaw being longer than or equal in length to the lower jaw. It is one of the rarer bichir species in the hobby. Like other bichirs it is an incredibly hardy, nocturnal species with very poor vision, relying on its excellent sense of smell to locate food. This species along with others of its genus are some of the last surviving relatives of very ancient species. Fossils of earlier relatives have...

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