Can bichir live out of water?

Where do Bichir fish live?

They make up the Polypteridae family and are mostly found in Northeast Africa throughout the Nile River and its associated tributaries. Bichirs prefer shallow, swampy waters and can thrive in semi-brackish waters as well.

What are the different types of bichir fish?

There are a few popular types of bichirs that you’ll see in aquariums all over the world. Each type has a different color and many times will have a body length that’s not shared by other bichirs. The dinosaur bichir (aka Senegal bichir) is one of the most popular types you can find.

Where do Bichir fish live in Egypt?

The Nile Bichir, Polypterus bichir bichir, is found in shallow, sluggish waters in Egypt, Chad, Ghana, and perhaps Cameroon. Albeit this species was the first of the Bichirs to be portrayed deductively, it remains very uncommon in the side interest and exchange because of the far-off zones it occupies.

How many types of bichir are there?

Types Of Bichirs. 1 Dinosaur Bichir. The dinosaur bichir (aka Senegal bichir) is one of the most popular types you can find. They’re mostly grey and are usually not as … 2 Albino Bichir. 3 Ornate Bichir. 4 Saddled Bichir. 5 Delhezi Bichir.

What is the difference between Polypterus and Bichir?

This species has a lower jaw longer than the upper jaw, a characteristic that defines the different Polypterus species. They are whitish-yellow colored with dark vertical bands along the body. The Albino Bichir, is just an albino variety of the Dinosaur Bichir.

What is a Guinean bichir?

he Guinean bichir is a beam finned fish from waterways and other freshwater natural surroundings in Western Africa, going from Guinea-Bissau to Nigeria. It arrives at the greatest length of 28 cm, is greenish-earthy colored to dark in shading, and has huge, dim spots and blotches on its sides.

What are the most popular types of bichir fish?

Grey, yellow, and white are the commonest colors and you will find multiple patterns on their body and fins. Based on the color and sizes, followings are the most popular types of Bichirs for aquarium trade:

What is the largest type of bichir?

Scattered throughout the yellow are black flecks that get closer together on their spiny dorsal fins. The saddled bichir ( Polypterus endlicheri) is massive. These fish can reach two and a half feet in length which makes them the largest type of bichir without a doubt.

How do we classify bichir species?

To date, most classification of bichirs are done through morphology (the study of form and structure) and comparison of proportions or counts of certain body parts (eg scale counts, numbers of finlets) This diagram shows many of the measurements used to classify and compare Polypterus species in scientific studies.

Is Polypterus bichir carnivore?

Polypterus is carnivorous. In the natural habitat, they prey on small fish, aquatic insects, crabs, shrimp and amphibian. In the aquarium, they are no selective eaters. Underjaw species like Polypterus bichir are more built for hunting on free-swimming prey, like fish and amphibians.

Can the Polypterus senegalus coexist with other fish?

As long as other fish are too big to be seen as prey (at least half the size of the Swamp Dragon) the Polypterus senegalus can coexist peacefully with other species. Do you have any experience with the Dinosaur Bichir?

What kind of fish is Polypterus endlicheri?

Polypterus endlicheri is a large and strong species, that grows to become up to 30 long (75 cm) in the wild. It is not very active during a day, it mainly slowly swims looking for food. Considering the size, it’s better to keep it in a separate tank and feed with live food (once or twice a week). Barred bichir (Polypterus delhezi)

What is a delhezi Bichir fish?

The delhezi bichir has the typical shape and size of other bichirs. The biggest feature that makes this type stand out is their interesting color patterns. They’re primarily grey with flecks of yellow and green and some short black stripes. The average bichir fish size is between 1-2.5 feet in length.

What is the largest Bichir fish?

The saddled bichir ( Polypterus endlicheri) is massive. These fish can reach two and a half feet in length which makes them the largest type of bichir without a doubt. They are light yellow and have some black/dark grey stripes that cover their bodies as well. One different feature of the endlicheri bichir is their protruding lower jaw.

Is Polypterus a carnivore?

Polypterus is carnivorous. In the natural habitat, they prey on small fish, aquatic insects, crabs, shrimp and amphibian. In the aquarium, they are no selective eaters.

Are Polypterus aggressive towards other fish?

In general Polypterus is not aggressive towards other fish from similar size. Polypterus is carnivorous. In the natural habitat they prey on small fish, aquatic insects, crabs, shrimp and amphibian.

What is Polypterus bichir?

Polypterus bichir is a lower jaw species that grows large. There are 2 know subspecies, which vary in area of distribution and features. Polypterus bichir bichir or Nile Bichir is found in the Chad river, Nile river basin, and Lake Turkana.

Are eels and Polypterus senegalus the same?

Any common names linking the Polypterus senegalus to eels are misnomers. These fish have characteristics that are truly unique to the Polypterus genus. The Polypterus senegalus comes from heavily vegetated, slow-moving water systems in Africa and India. They are very common in these areas, so common, that they are often found in roadside ditches.

How do Polypterus survive out of water?

These fish, as long as they stay wet, can survive for extended periods of time out of water. The Polypterus is not picky about its prey and will eat almost anything. Even if a fish is a bit too large to be swallowed, the Polypterus senegalus may try anyway. This is why tankmates have to be at least half the size of the swamp dragon.

What does the Polypterus senegalus eat?

The Polypterus is not picky about its prey and will eat almost anything. Even if a fish is a bit too large to be swallowed, the Polypterus senegalus may try anyway. This is why tankmates have to be at least half the size of the swamp dragon. My favorite food for Senegalus, that can be ordered cheaply on Amazon:

Is the Polypterus senegalus the swamp dragon?

The Polypterus Senegalus, sometimes called the Senegal Bichir, Reed Fish, Dinosaur Eel, or Swamp Dragon, is not your garden variety aquarium fish. With their serrated dorsal fins, pronounced teeth, protruding nostrils, and wide, iridescent eyes, it is easy to understand why some people call Polypterus senegalus the Swamp Dragon.

What is the difference between Polypterus polli and Polypterus congicus?

Polypterus polli. Polypterus endlicheri congicus was found to be a closer relative to P. bichir bichir and P. bichir lapradei and is no longer an Endlicheri subspecies disbanding the Endlicheri complex. They are now both known as just: P. congicus. P. delhezi is a transitional species between upper and lower jaw.

What is the lower jaw of a Polypterus called?

This is one of the “lower-jawed” tribe of Polypterus, so called as the lower jaw protrudes in these species. There is a subspecies of this fish, P. endlicheri congicus that grows even larger than P. endlicheri endlicheri.

What is a delhezi Polypterus?

P. delhezi is one of the “upper-jawed” tribe of polypterids so named on account of the upper jaw being longer than or equal in length to the lower jaw. It should be noted that most Polypterus offered for sale are wild caught and, as such, may come in carrying infections or parasites.

What is the difference between delhezi and saddled bichir?

The Delhezi Bichir, also known as Polypterus delhezi has grey coloration with green or yellow spots. Its coloration makes it very popular. The Saddled Bichir, ( Polypterus endlicheri) is one of the largest reaching up to 30 inches.

What is the largest Bichir in the world?

The Saddled Bichir, ( Polypterus endlicheri) is one of the largest reaching up to 30 inches. This species has a lower jaw longer than the upper jaw, a characteristic that defines the different Polypterus species.

What is the most active polypterid fish?

Senegal bichir (P. senegallus) This is one of the most active and less timid Polypterids species. It actively swims almost all the time, it is curious and persistent. The fish doesn’t show aggression towards its kind and other tank dwellers if the latter are large enough.