Polypterus bichir bichir

Nile Bichir

Classification

Polypteridae

Distribution

A widespread species it has been recorded in Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Chad, Ghana and GuineaBissau. It is usually found in shallow waters of lakes but is also found in rivers and marshes.

Habitat

A widespread species it has been recorded in Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Chad, Ghana and GuineaBissau. It is usually found in shallow waters of lakes but is also found in rivers and marshes.

Maximum Standard Length

29″ (72cm). This is rarely achieved in aquaria; 18″ is more realistic.

Aquarium SizeTop ↑

72″ x 24″ x 24″ (180x60x60cm) – 650 litres.

Maintenance

Floor space is more important than depth with this species. A soft substrate with pieces of driftwood and smooth rocks arranged to form hiding places is ideal. Plants are not essential but are appreciated. The aquarium should have a tight-fitting cover as it is an excellent escape artist.

Water Conditions

Temperature: 72-82°F (22-28°C)

pH: 6.0-8.0

Hardness: 5-25 dH

Diet

P. bichir is carnivorous by nature and will not usually accept dried foods in aquaria, though some specimens have been known to take pelleted varieties. The most suitable options are meaty live or frozen foods such as prawns, earthworms, mussel, lancefish etc.

Behaviour and CompatibilityTop ↑

Not to be trusted with tankmates it can fit in its mouth but is relatively peaceful otherwise. Suitable tankmates include other Polypterus species, Synodontis, Datnoides, Knife Fish, larger Ctenopoma species, medium to large characins and African Butterfly Fish.

Sexual Dimorphism

The male has a thicker anal fin than the female.

Reproduction

Not recorded in captivity but is thought to breed in a similar way to other Polypterus species. This species breeds during the rainy season in nature. Changes in the temperature and chemistry of the water are likely to induce spawning behaviour. A large tank is required and should contain soft, slightly acidic water. It is an egg scatterer and therefore areas of dense planting and/or spawning mops should be provided. Courtship involves chasing and nudging of the female by the male. During spawning itself, the male receives the eggs from the female by cupping his anal and caudal fins around her genitals. He then fertilises the eggs before scattering them amongst vegetation. At this point, the adult fish should be removed as they may predate upon the eggs. The eggs hatch in 3-4 days, with the fry becoming free swimming around 3 days later. First foods should be brine shrimp nauplii or microworm. Apparently the fry are not particularly mobile, so care should be exercised to ensure they are well fed.

NotesTop ↑

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 parts, of which the right hand section is considerably larger. This functions as an accessory breathing organ and means the fish can survive out of water for some time, provided it is kept moist. Like Ananbantoid species, this fish may actually drown if it is denied access to atmospheric air.
Young bichirs have amphibian-like external gills which are lost as the fish matures. This, coupled with their nocturnal mode of hunting, in which they emerge from their daytime refuges to hunt invertebrates and small fish in shallow water, clearly exhibits the link these species form between fish and amphibians.

This is one of the “lower-jawed” tribe of Polypterus, so called as the lower jaw protrudes in these species. There are two other subspecies in the P. bichir complex. P. bichir katangae, which is smaller and is found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and P. bichir lapradei, which is almost as widespread as P. bichir bichir and grows to a similar size. Confusingly, there is also a theory that P. bichir katangae is synonymous with P. endlicheri congicus as they share the same natural range and have identical physical characteristics. For now, the species remains within the P. bichir complex. Aquarium care for all the subspecies is identical, although they are rarely seen in the hobby.

It should be noted that most Polypterus offered for sale are wild caught and, as such, may come in carrying infections or parasites. We suggest keeping a close eye on new fish for the first few weeks after purchase.