Poll's bichir
Polypterus polli
Also known as Congo palmas bichir, Speckled bichir
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)
- pH
- 6.2–7.8
- Adult size
- 12.6 in (32 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal (300 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Central Congo basin
- Family
- Polypteridae
Overview
Poll's bichir is one of the smaller, more manageable bichirs, a nocturnal bottom predator that is peaceful toward fish too big to eat but will happily swallow small ones. Keep it alone or with sturdy, larger tankmates, not with little community fish or shrimp. It is a hardy, undemanding fish that takes meaty foods such as earthworms, bloodworm, prawn and sinking carnivore pellets, best offered in the evening. Give it a shaded tank of at least 300 liters with a soft sand floor, driftwood and rock caves, dim lighting, and a tight, weighted lid, since bichirs are escape artists.
In the wild
It comes from the Malebo Pool and the lower and central Congo basin, in warm, soft, slightly acidic and often densely vegetated waters. Recreate that with a sand bottom, driftwood, rockwork and shady planted cover, with gentle flow. Keep it warm at 24 to 28 C and close to neutral, about pH 6.2 to 7.8. It tolerates a range of water chemistry once settled, but appreciates shade and hiding places.
Good to know
Polypterus polli is one of the smallest bichirs in the family Polypteridae, reaching about 32 cm, dull gold with a fine reticulated pattern and pale spots near the tail. It belongs to the palmas group and was once considered a subspecies of Polypterus palmas. Its home breeding is not recorded; in the wild bichirs scatter eggs among plants rather than tend a nest.
Did you know
It carries a scientist's name. Polypterus polli honours Max Poll, the Belgian ichthyologist whose work described a large share of the Congo's fishes, and at around 32 cm it is one of the smallest bichirs a keeper can choose.
Common questions
What size tank does a Poll's bichir need?
A Poll's bichir needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Poll's bichir need?
Poll's bichir are comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.2–7.8.
How big do Poll's bichir get?
An adult Poll's bichir reaches about 12.6 in (32 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Poll's bichir?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Planning tankmates
See how Poll's bichir fits a stocking plan. Open the stocking calculator
Add to your site
Show this species on your own site: a shortcode for WordPress, or an HTML embed for anywhere else.
Related species
Barred bichir
Polypterus delheziFreshwater13.8 in (35 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)
Marbled bichir
Polypterus palmasFreshwater13.8 in (35 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Senegal bichir
Polypterus senegalusFreshwater13.8 in (35 cm)143 gal (540 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
West African Bichir
Polypterus retropinnisFreshwater13.8 in (35 cm)53 gal (200 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)
Mokele-mbembe bichir
Polypterus mokelembembeFreshwater10.6 in (27 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Ansorge's bichir
Polypterus ansorgiiFreshwater15.7 in (40 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)