TankBud

Nile bichir

Polypterus bichir

Also known as Bichir, Sudan bichir

FreshwaterFish

Nile bichir (Polypterus bichir)
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Care at a glance

Temperature
77–84°F
25–29°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
27.6 in
70 cm
Minimum tank
185 gal
700 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Polypteridae
Origin
Native to the Nile and other large African river systems, living in vegetated margins and floodplains.

Overview

This is a large bichir, reaching about 70 cm, so provide at least 700 litres with a long footprint and a sealed lid. Keep it at 25 to 29 C and pH 6.5 to 7.5. It ignores fish too big to eat but will swallow smaller tankmates, so keep it only with large robust species. Feed meaty items such as fish, prawns, earthworms and large sinking pellets.

In the wild

The Nile bichir is one of the longest bichirs, a pale-bodied predator with faint dark bars and the family's signature row of dorsal finlets. It cruises the bottom of vegetated river margins at night. Its lower jaw projects forward, marking it as one of the larger-mouthed bichirs.

Good to know

Polypterus bichir is the type species of the genus and can reach around 70 cm. It breathes air with paired lungs and can gulp at the surface in oxygen-poor water. Several subspecies are recognised across its wide African range.

Did you know

Bichirs are sometimes called dinosaur eels in the trade, a nod to their prehistoric look, though they are true fish and not eels.

Common questions

What size tank does a Nile bichir need?

A Nile bichir needs at least 185 gal (700 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Nile bichir need?

A Nile bichir is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

How big does a Nile bichir get?

An adult Nile bichir reaches about 27.6 in (70 cm).

Related species