Bichir Care: The Ultimate Guide to Your Dinosaur Aquarium Fish

This care sheet covers a variety of Bichir species, including:  

• Barred or Armored
• Platinum Semi Senegalus
• Cuvier
• Saddled Endlicheri
• Lapradei
• Guinean
• Ornate

Overview

Scientific names: Polypterus delhezi, p. senegalus, p. endlicheri, p. lapradei, p. ansorgii, p. ornatipinnis

Bichirs are native to the northeast African Nile River region and its tributaries; they also have the ability to thrive in semi-brackish environments. This dinosaur looking species has been around for millions of years and has changed very little appearance. Their scientific name 'bichir polypterus' means “many fins” referring to the series of spiny dorsal fins. Outside of their unique prehistoric appearance they have another unique feature, bichirs have lungs, in addition to their gills, allowing them to breathe out of water. These lungs, large pectoral fins and the eel/snake like body allows them to move across land for short distances to catch prey or settle into another body of water. Bichirs have poor eyesight, this and being nocturnal they spend their nights hunting for prey. Like sharks, they have a great sense of smell and little organs called Ampullae of Lorenzini that can pick up the weak electrical fields of other animals helping them hunt for food. They are semi-aggressive and can have some aggressive tendencies grabbing anything that will fit in their mouth.

Typical appearance and behavior

·       Eel/snake shaped body

·       Have lungs as well as gills

·       Multiple spiny dorsal fins

·       Nocturnal

·       Freshwater but can thrive in semi-brackish waters

·       Have Ampullae of Lorenzini

Characteristics

Habitat

Habitat size

Keep in an appropriately sized aquarium for the species selected, which can range from 90 gallons for a smaller species, to a much larger aquarium for larger growing species.

Building your habitat

• Water health
  • Provide proper filtration to ensure optimal water quality to help maintain health; low to moderate water circulation should be provided to mimic the water currents found in the bichir’s natural habitat
  • Stable water quality (pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite) and water temperature are critical to the health of aquatic life; if you are unsure of your water quality, bring a sample to Petco for free testing
  • An aquatic heater should be utilized to stabilize water temperature, ensuring it does not fluctuate more than 2 degrees in either direction in a 24-hour period
  • Bichir’s will benefit from the addition of freshwater salt to the aquarium. The specific gravity should be kept at 1.004; do not allow specific gravity to fluctuate more than 0.001 in either direction in a 24-hour period.

• Décor: Provide plenty of space for swimming, as well as plants, rocks or décor for hiding places
• A top should be added to the aquarium as they can jump out of the aquarium

Feeding
A well-balanced bichir diet consists of:

·       Brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, bloodworms, tubifex, crustaceans (live, freeze-dried, or frozen) and carnivorous pellets.

Things to remember when feeding your bichir:

·       Feed small amounts two to three times daily, no more than your fish will eat in 1–2 minutes

·       Thaw frozen food before feeding

·       Nocturnal, food should be provided at night

Bichir care

• Maintaining great water quality with regular water changes and adequate filtration is important to help keep your bichir healthy
  • Daily: Check filter, water temperature and other equipment
  • Weekly: Test water quality at least once a week
  • Weekly to monthly: Change 10–25% of the total volume of water every 2–4 weeks, or as needed; change filter media monthly
• Avoid overcrowded conditions, which are a major cause of stress and disease

Where to buy

Various Bichirs are available for purchase at Petco online and in-store; availability varies by location. If visiting your local Petco Pet Care Center location, please call ahead to check availability.

Bichir supplies

·       Appropriately sized aquarium

·       Aquarium top

·       Appropriate food, freeze-dried and frozen

·       Décor

·       Water conditioner

·       Filter

·       Water test kit

·       Full-spectrum lighting

·       Net

·       Thermometer

·       Freshwater substrate

·       Heater

·       Refractometer

·       Airline tubing

·       Airstone

·       Air pump

·       Check valve

·       Freshwater salt

·       Live plants

Tank mates

Bichirs are generally peaceful, but they are territorial and can have aggressive tendencies and will grab anything that will fit in their mouth. Should be kept with species of the same or larger size such as such as other bichir, larger cichlids, larger catfish and arowanas.

Health

Signs of a healthy fish

·       Clear eyes

·       Eats vigorously

·       Good coloration

·       Free of parasites or disease

Red flags (if you notice any of these signs, contact your local aquatic specialist or veterinarian)

·       Loss of color or appetite

·       Spots or fungus on body or mouth

·       Cloudy eyes or pop-eye

·       Listlessness

·       Labored breathing

·       Erratic swimming

·       Weight loss

·       Bloating

·       Frayed or discolored fins

Common Bichir health issues

• Cichlids Care Sheet
• Catfish Care Sheet
• Plecostomus Care Sheet

Notes and resources

Ask a Pet Care Center store employee about Petco's selection of products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. All products carry a 100% money-back guarantee.

Because all aquatic life are potential carriers of infectious diseases, such as atypical mycobacterium and salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your aquatic life and/or habitat contents to help prevent the potential spread of diseases.

Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physician before purchasing and/or caring for aquatic life and should consider not having aquatic life as a pet.

Go to the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov/healthypets for more information about aquatic life and disease.

The information on this Care Sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you need additional information, please contact your veterinarian as appropriate.