TankBud

Barred bichir

Polypterus delhezi

Also known as Armored Bichir

FreshwaterFish

Barred bichir (Polypterus delhezi)
Steven G. Johnson · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–86°F
24–30°C
pH
6.0–8.0
Adult size
13.8 in
35 cm
Minimum tank
53 gal
200 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Polypteridae
Origin
Congo Basin

Overview

The barred bichir is a hardy, slow-moving predator that cruises the bottom of the tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The barred bichir is a living relic with paired, lung-like swim bladders that let it breathe air. It may actually drown if kept in water it cannot surface from, since it depends on gulping air from above.

Caring for the barred bichir

Give the barred bichir a tank of at least 53 gal (200 L), with a soft, sandy or fine substrate. Add driftwood, rock and caves for cover, since it shelters under them. Fit a tight lid, because bichirs will try to leave the tank.

Keep the water at 75 to 86°F (24 to 30°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0 and gentle flow. Feed meaty foods such as earthworms, prawns, mussel and sinking pellets in the evening, when it is most active.

The barred bichir is generally peaceful, but it will eat any fish or shrimp small enough to swallow. Keep it with robust tank mates of similar size. Aquarium spawning is rarely recorded.

Good to know

The barred bichir belongs to Polypteridae, an ancient family of ray-finned fish. Bichirs have thick, armored ganoid scales and lobe-like pectoral fins. A row of small finlets runs along the back in place of a single dorsal fin.

In the wild

Polypterus delhezi comes from the Congo River basin in central Africa. It lives over soft bottoms in slow rivers, backwaters and floodplains. Its ability to breathe air lets it tolerate warm, oxygen-poor water.

From published sources

Tank mates

Each fish here is named as a tank mate for the barred bichir by at least two published care guides. Every tank mate must be too large for the bichir to swallow, so add them as adults.

Sources: Seriously Fish, Fishkeeper (Maidenhead Aquatics), LiveAquaria, Fishkeeping World, Aquarium Source.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a barred bichir need?

A barred bichir needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a barred bichir need?

A barred bichir is comfortable at 75–86°F (24–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–8.0.

What does a barred bichir eat?

A barred bichir eats meaty foods such as earthworms, prawns, mussel and sinking pellets, offered in the evening. It will also eat any fish or shrimp small enough to swallow.

How big does a barred bichir get?

An adult barred bichir reaches about 13.8 in (35 cm).

What fish can live with the barred bichir?

Published care guides name black ghost knifefish, featherfin squeaker, decorated squeaker and African knifefish, among others. Every tank mate must be too large for the bichir to swallow, so add them as adults.

Related species