TankBud

Teugels' bichir

Polypterus teugelsi

Also known as Cross River bichir, Teugelsi bichir

FreshwaterFish

Teugels' bichir (Polypterus teugelsi)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
16.5 in
42 cm
Minimum tank
119 gal
450 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Polypteridae
Origin
Cross River basin, Cameroon

Overview

Teugels' bichir is a large, nocturnal predator that lurks along the bottom of a roomy tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Teugels' bichir is a living fossil that is new to science. It went unnamed until the twenty-first century, a reminder that an ancient family can still hide undiscovered members.

Caring for the Teugels' bichir

Teugels' bichir needs a roomy footprint of at least 119 gal (450 L), with plenty of floor space to patrol. Give it a soft sand bottom, driftwood, rockwork and shaded cover. Above all, fit a tight, weighted lid, because bichirs readily climb out of open tanks.

Keep the water soft and acidic to neutral, at a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Hold it warm at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C), with gentle flow. Dim lighting and secure hiding places suit this nocturnal fish. Feed meaty foods such as earthworms, prawn, mussel and sinking carnivore pellets in the evening.

It is a lurking predator that will eat any tank mate small enough to swallow. Keep it alone or with large, robust fish only. Its home breeding is not recorded.

Good to know

Polypterus teugelsi is a bichir in the family Polypteridae, with a distinctive net-like pattern over the back and a paler, orange-washed belly. It was described in 2004 by Ralf Britz and named for the ichthyologist Guy Teugels. It stays uncommon in the trade.

In the wild

Teugels' bichir is found only in the upper Cross River system of Cameroon in West Africa. It lives there in warm, soft, forest-fed water.

Common questions

What size tank does a Teugels' bichir need?

A Teugels' bichir needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Teugels' bichir need?

A Teugels' bichir is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a Teugels' bichir eat?

A Teugels' bichir eats meaty foods such as earthworms, prawn, mussel and sinking carnivore pellets, offered in the evening. It will also eat any tank mate small enough to swallow.

How big does a Teugels' bichir get?

An adult Teugels' bichir reaches about 16.5 in (42 cm).

Related species