TankBud

Marbled bichir

Polypterus palmas

Also known as Shortfin bichir, Palmas bichir, Polypterus buettikoferi, Gold dust bichir

FreshwaterFish

Marbled bichir (Polypterus palmas)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
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
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Common
Family
Polypteridae
Origin
Native to rivers and swamps of West Africa, from Guinea and Sierra Leone through the region's coastal drainages.

Overview

The marbled bichir is one of the smaller, more manageable members of the bichir family. It makes a good starter bichir for a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The marbled bichir finds food almost entirely by smell, like other bichirs. It can be trained to feed even in a fully darkened tank.

Caring for the marbled bichir

Give a marbled bichir a tank of at least 53 gal (200 L) with a tight-fitting lid. Keep it at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

It is a nocturnal bottom hunter. Offer sinking meaty foods such as prawns, worms and pellets, ideally after lights-out.

The marbled bichir is solitary, and it is peaceful with fish it cannot swallow. It will eat small tank mates, though, so pair it with medium to large community fish. Breeding it is hard.

Good to know

Polypterus palmas is a West African bichir with a slim body and a mottled gray-green pattern. It has paired lungs that let it breathe atmospheric air. Like all bichirs, it has thick, armored ganoid scales, dorsal finlets and a body plan little changed for many millions of years. Juveniles pass through a larval stage with external gills.

In the wild

The marbled bichir is native to rivers and swamps of West Africa. Its range runs from Guinea and Sierra Leone through the region's coastal drainages.

Common questions

What size tank does a marbled bichir need?

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

What temperature and pH does a marbled bichir need?

A marbled bichir is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a marbled bichir eat?

A marbled bichir eats sinking meaty foods such as prawns, worms and pellets, ideally after lights-out. It will also eat small tank mates.

How big does a marbled bichir get?

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

Related species