carnivorous fish pets Senegal Bichir Fish Care & Tank Set up Guide (Polypterus)

Bichir fish also called as Senegal Bichir by most aquarists is used to refer to fish in Polypterus genus; these are freshwater fish from Africa. There are many types of Bichirs, the one you see in the video are Albino Bichir which is captive bred. Polypterus have some interesting characteristics which make these fish interesting to keep in an aquarium.
Natural habitat of these fish are flooded plains, river edges, lakes estuaries etc that occur along the river Nile Basin & other parts of Africa. Long body is perfectly evolved to swim through the shallow waters. Most distinctive character of this fish is that, it can stay out of water for quite sometime as they have pair of lungs; apart from this the strong pectoral fins help them move on land & cover short distance.
Bichir fish is also called as Dinosaur fish, due to their body shape & unique dorsal fins which consists of 7 to 18 smaller fin-lets depending on the type of Bichir. This fish does have ancient characteristics equipped with lungs, gills strong pectoral fins to move on land.
The new born Senegal bichir have external gills & the lungs are developed at a later stage like few other amphibians; these fish prefer breathing surface air & they do it by using the opening on their head called spiracles.
In their natural habitat these fish are nocturnal; as juveniles they feed on small insects, earthworm, crustaceans etc. The fully grown Bichir diet mainly includes fish, amphibians like frogs, & even small birds. The fish you see in the video are Juveniles.
This fish are egg layers, they scatter their eggs & show no parental care. There is no information of them breeding in an aquarium; but they can be captive bred in fish farms.
Male and Female Bichir visual differences is by looking at the tail fin; females are bulkier & have a small cloacal fin; whereas the male has a curved cloacal fin which is used to catch eggs & fertilize them.

How to care for Bichir in an aquarium?
As juveniles you can keep them in planted aquarium as small as 20 gallon; this fish prefer darker substrate; as they grow you can choose between bare bottom aquarium with driftwood & plants like anubias & java fern tied to it or tank bottom with fine dark sand. Fully grown will require at least 75 gallon aquarium.

Best tank mates for Senegal Bichir fish?
I have seen them been kept with certain types of catfish, arowana, eels etc; I have not kept them with any of these, as I think its too risky, I have experienced them biting off fins of larger fish even as juveniles. So, best thing would be Bichir with other Bichirs. They do chase each other from their favorite spot but never seriously damaging each other.

What to feed Bichirs?
These are carnivorous fish; I feed them protein based pellets as staple food, frozen & live food every 2 or 3 days. You can feed them crickets, roaches, earthworms, blood worms, meal worms etc.

Water parameters for bichirs?
Water parameters
Temperature range - 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C)
pH range - 6.2 – 7.8
Water hardness - soft to hard water (under
180 ppm)

Website - https://www.aquakri.com

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/aquaKri777/

Twitter - @AquaKri

Music - Weak Knight by Devon Church from Youtube Audio Library

carnivorous fish pets Senegal Bichir Fish Care & Tank Set up Guide (Polypterus)
31 Likes	31 Dislikes
1,293 views views	3.37K followers
Pets & Animals	Upload TimePublished on 18 May 2019

Related keywords

bichir fish,polypterus teugelsi,bichiro,senegalesischer staatsmann,dragon fish aquarium,senegal bichir lifespan,dragon fish deep sea,polypterus ansorgii,senegal sprache,fish out of water game,senegal bichir tank mates,fish out of water squire,monster fish full episodes,carnivorous fish for sale,dragon fish tattoo,fish out of water перевод,bichira,baby arowana bichir,monster fishing tackle,senegal bichir breeding,monster fish keeper,bichir actor,senegal reisen,senegal bichir for sale,fish out of water definition,carnivorous fish for 20 gallon tank,senegal algerien,carnivorous fish for 10 gallon tank,polypterus species,senegal ferien,senigallia,bichiroque precio,senegal fc,fish out of water android,bichir albino,senegal bichir growth rate,carnivorous fish food,senegal bichir for sale australia,fish out of water flapjack,baby bichir for sale,senegal währung,dragon fish goby,senegal klima,monster fish tv show,polypterus palmas,carnivorous fishes of warm seas,baby nasal aspirator bichiro,dragon fish wikipedia,dragon fishing,carnivorous fish meaning,senegal bichir food,fish out of water video,polypterus senegalus,senegal bichir albino,monster fishing 2019 tips,senegal urlaub,carnivorous fish similar to stingrays crossword,carnivorous fish teeth,monster fish caught,fish out of water meaning,baby bichir care,senegal map,monster fish for sale,senegal dakar,senegal bichir max size,dragon fishmaker 2,fish out of water film,dragon fish arowana,carnivorous fish crossword clue,dragon fishmaker,dragon fishing rods,bichir hermana,polypterus palmas buettikoferi,polypterus polli,dragon fish freshwater,monster fish show,dragon fish for sale,senegal surfen,carnivorous fish list,bichir odiseo,baby ornate bichir,baby bichir not eating,baby delhezi bichir,monster fish tank,monster fish aquarium,polypterus retropinnis,monster fishing 2019,fish out of water animation,polypterus ornatipinnis,senegal bichir community tank,carnivorous fish examples,polypterus endlicheri,polypterus senegalus size,fish out of water izle,polypterus endlicheri size,carnivorous fish digestive system,monster fish netflix,senegal frauen,carnivorous fish pellets,dragon fish cost,senegal wetter,senegal,monster fish episodes,bichir endlicheri,baby dinosaur bichir,monster fish minecraft,carnivorous fish in india,polypterus bichir lapradei,baby bichir fish,bichir ensillado,baby bichir food,senegal eda,senegal bichir care,monster fish lodge,polypterus weeksii,monster fish crossword,fish out of water font,baby bichir feeding,dragon fish tank mates,monster fishing game,fish out of water story,fish out of water means,polypterus congicus,fish out of water bojack,bichir bruno,senegal bichir temperature,dragon fish price,dragon fish poison,baby bichir eel,senegal bichir tank size,dragon fish blow,baby senegal bichir,senegal karte,senegal bichir size,dragon fish pet,dragon fish minecraft,bichir senegalus,senegal trikot,senegal bichir price,fish out of water app,bichiroque manual,bichir pez,polypterus senegalus care,monster fish movie,senegal bichir feeding,baby albino bichir,bichir peliculas,senegal bichir diet,carnivorous fish similar to stingray,senegal bichir with african cichlids,fish out of water apk,polypterus delhezi,polypterus mokelembembe,senegal bichir full grown,bichir de senegal,polypterus bichir,bichir demian,monster fish bash 2019,fish out of water ios,carnivorous fish crossword,senegal bichir full size,fish out of water amy lane,senegal flagge,fish out of water mod,polypterus lapradei,baby senegal bichir care,monster fishing 2019 mod apk,bichiroque,dragon fish greece,bichir muerte,senegal hauptstadt,carnivorous fish freshwater,bichires,carnivorous fish that lives in the amazon,carnivorous fish definition,