TankBud

Ornate bichir

Polypterus ornatipinnis

FreshwaterFish

Ornate bichir (Polypterus ornatipinnis)
Bloopityboop · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–82°F
25–28°C
pH
6.0–8.0
Adult size
21.7 in
55 cm
Minimum tank
172 gal
650 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Polypteridae
Origin
Congo River basin and Lake Tanganyika

Overview

This is a big, mostly peaceful predator that's fine kept alone and needs a large tank, on the order of 650 liters for an adult. It lives on the bottom and is most active at night, hunting by smell more than sight. Keep water warm, mid to upper 20s C, with a pH from 6 to 8. Feed meaty foods like whole frozen fish, shrimp, and earthworms, and never house it with anything small enough to swallow.

In the wild

The ornate bichir comes from the Congo basin and nearby waters in central Africa, living in slow rivers, swamps, and floodplains. These are warm, soft to neutral waters with cover and low oxygen in places, which is why the fish gulps air from the surface. A large tank with a soft substrate, hiding spots, and a tight lid suits it. Open swimming space along the bottom matters as it grows.

Good to know

This is one of the bichirs, family Polypteridae, an ancient group of ray-finned fish. It grows large, around 55 to 60 cm, and is a slow grower that can live well over a decade. Bichirs have a pair of lungs and can breathe air directly, an unusual trait among fish. Breeding in home aquariums is rarely recorded.

Did you know

Bichirs have to surface to breathe and will actually drown if they can't reach air. They can also survive out of water for a good while if kept damp, and they're famous escape artists, which is why a tight, weighted lid is not optional with this fish.

Common questions

What size tank does an Ornate bichir need?

An Ornate bichir needs at least 172 gal (650 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an Ornate bichir need?

An Ornate bichir is comfortable at 77–82°F (25–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–8.0.

How big does an Ornate bichir get?

An adult Ornate bichir reaches about 21.7 in (55 cm).

Related species