Above: In the picture, is a nice premium quality Senegal Bichir, swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.

Comments: These are fabulous looking fish, with unique characteristics.

Origin: Bichirs are found in Africa and are wild fish. But now professional fish farmers produce thousands of Bichirs, and you can find them living in aquariums all over the world.

Maximum Size: In aquariums this Bichir can grow to be about 20" long, and sometimes larger if fed properly, and if the water quality is good.

Behaviors: Bichirs are usually not aggressive fish but will eat small fish.

Compatibility: Some recommended tankmates include, any community fish that are too big to eat.

Also non-violent fish are best suited to live with this type of fish.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: Bichirs live best from about 75 to 80-degrees F. with 78 being perhaps ideal.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is the best food to feed to Bichirs.

Smaller sized pellets when they're small, and larger sized pellets when they've grown larger.

Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.

Water Conditions: They are used to hard alkaline water, but these fish can adapt to most types of water, and so as usual it's best not to try to change the pH or hardness of your aquarium water.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: small young Bichirs will do fine in an aquarium with at least 30-gallons of water, but of course bigger is better.

Eventually this fish will need at least an 80-gallon aquarium.

Decor: Bichirs do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

Click here for more about aquarium gravel.

Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, and Bichirs may need live plants.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

A 30-gallon aquarium needs a Penguin 200B Filter or a Penguin 350B Filter.

Most 80-gallon aquariums have room along the back for at least two Penguin 350B Filters, and this is sort of a minimal aquarium for an adult.

Better is a 120, 150, or 200-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back.

Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range.

Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: Bichirs can live for several years.

Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they may live many years.

Gender: The male's anal fin is usually thicker and larger than the female's.

Breeding: There are some reports of this wild fish breeding in aquariums, but it is very rare.

Bichirs scatter their eggs on plant leaves and then protect those eggs, then later they continue to protect their fry, after the eggs hatch.

Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.

Popularity: These fish are rather popular in the hobby.

Names: The scientific name of this Bichir is Polypterus senegalus.

Variations: There are many variations of Bichirs in the wild and in the hobby.

Click here for a lot more information about keeping and caring for Wild Fish, including a picture gallery.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.

DrTom - 01/15/2015