How big does a bichir fish get?

What does a Dinosaur Bichir look like?

Additionally, these fish exhibit hardy scales that make them look like ancient dragons. Another striking feature of the Dinosaur Bichir is its dorsal fin. Rather than have a single dorsal fin, it has a series of distinctive finlets running down along its back.

Do Bichir fish have scales?

Senegal Bichirs only come in various shades of grey. There also exist albino variants, which are now selectively bred. Additionally, these fish exhibit hardy scales that make them look like ancient dragons.

Is a bichir an eel or a dinosaur?

This species is neither an eel nor a dinosaur, but it is otherwise known as “Dinosaur Eel.” Although this creature looks nothing like a dino, Bichirs and their relatives have walked the Earth alongside prehistoric reptiles. The exotic Bichir is in fact a remnant of an ancient lineage of fish, having about 60 million years of independent evolution.

Do bichirs eat danios and tetras?

Tetras and danios are not the only fish that make for a good snack for the Dinosaur Bichir. This opportunistic carnivore will also devour loaches and other similar-sized fish. Bichirs do not need to swallow the fish whole, as they perform a feeding technique called death roll.

Where can I find Bichir fish?

Its common names are “dinosaur eel,” “dragon fin,” or “dragon fish” in the aqua pet shop. If you plan to find Bichirs in the wild, you can find them in swamps, river margins, lakes, and floodplains. Its distribution is widespread from the Nile basin to West Africa. You can find the fish in the following countries and locations: Congo River Basin.

How does a Dinosaur Bichir pick up its food?

The Dinosaur Bichir does not pick up food the way other fish do. Instead, this species vacuums its prey into its mouth by rapidly opening its jaws and expanding its buccal cavity. The drawback to this strategy, however, is that the fish may also swallow bits of the substrate along with its food.

What kind of fish can live with a Dinosaur Bichir?

Here are excellent tank mates for your Dinosaur Bichir: 1 Gars 2 Bowfin 3 Datnoids 4 Arowana 5 South American Lungfish 6 Queensland Lungfish 7 Large species of Spiny Eels 8 True Eels like Monopterus 9 Large non-predatory catfish 10 Large placid cichlids More items…

Why do Bichir have scales on their scales?

These scales are another weapon to protect polypterus in the wild, imagine a fish with chainmail. Something that distinguishes bichirs from any other fish is their unique development of large, external gills during the larval stage in a similar fashion to amphibians like Axolotls.

What does a fish with scales on its back look like?

These fish are quite unique looking. They have elongated, almost eel-like bodies, and multiple short dorsal fins along their backs. Their scales are usually quite thick, and typically have brown or tan coloration. The various species range in size from about 11 in. long to a maximum of 38 in. long.

How long will a Dinosaur Bichir live in captivity?

The Dinosaur Bichir might be the epitome of a hardy, highly adaptable species. But in captivity, this fish will rely on you for everything for the next 10 or 15 years of its life.

How to get rid of bichir dinosaur fish?

Formaldehyde will work best, but I recommend it only if you have the experience. Otherwise, you might exceed the dose and kill your Dinosaur Fish immediately. Another strategy is to relocate your bichir to a quarantine tank. Add salt to the water and raise its temperature up to 90° F for five days.

What can I Feed my Dinosaur Bichir?

The Dinosaur Bichir is an opportunistic feeder that will hunt down smaller fish, but other similarly-sized, non-aggressive monster fish are welcome As with any species, consistency is the key for your Dinosaur Bichir to live a long, healthy life.

How do bichirs navigate?

Instead, bichirs use their other senses to navigate and find food. They have a good sense of smell and also are able to sense electricity in the water. They have ampullae of Lorenzini which are little organs that can pick up the electricity of other animals in the water. As you can imagine, this is quite useful!

What should I do if I have a Bichir in my Aquarium?

Attention should be paid to ensure that bichirs in a community aquarium get their fair share of food. Adult bichirs are primarily bottom dwellers but will often shoot up towards the surface to breathe in air. The task of breeding bichirs is a highly demanding task which may sometimes take months of planning.

Why do fish have scales on their back?

Hence, providing a layer of protection for the fish. Lastly, they provide a hydrodynamic purpose and reduce water resistance when the fish is swimming. Different fish have different kinds of scales.

What is the Dinosaur Bichir lifespan?

The Dinosaur Bichir lifespan is usually between 10 to 15 years. However, it is not out of the question if your pet hits two decades, especially if you always go the extra mile.

How to take care of a Dinosaur Bichir?

Dinosaur Bichir Care Guide 1 Diet. In the wild, the Dinosaur Bichir has a diet that includes amphibians, earthworms, and small invertebrates. 2 Water Conditions. Senegal Bichirs can endure extremely poor water conditions because they have many ways to counter their problems. 3 Disease. … 4 Tank Setup. … 5 Tank Mates. … 6 Breeding.

What do ornate bichir fish eat?

A good diet for Ornate Bichir will consist of a variety of meaty foods: a variety of feeder fish such as shrimp, shrimp, oysters, raw shrimp and silk sides, and lance fish. Some bichirs are known to take commercial meat pellets and wafers, but generally, they work best with either straight or frozen foods.

How big do Dinosaur Bichir fish get?

Senegal Bichirs may grow to reach 20 inches in length. The ideal Dinosaur Bichir tank size is 90 gallons for one fish. Make it 125 gallons if you plan on keeping a pair. If you wish to add several large, compatible species in the future, then you will definitely need the largest tank possible.

What size tank does a Dinosaur Bichir need?

The ideal Dinosaur Bichir tank size is 90 gallons for one fish. Make it 125 gallons if you plan on keeping a pair. If you wish to add several large, compatible species in the future, then you will definitely need the largest tank possible. You do not want to come home finding your Bichir sprawled across your floor, do you?

What does a trunkfish look like?

Many trunkfish exhibit spots, splotches, or patches of color. Many species of trunkfish inhabit coral reefs in tropical regions so they require warm water temperatures and reef-like decorations consisting of hardy corals and live rock.

Is the Bichir a dinosaur?

Although this creature looks nothing like a dino, Bichirs and their relatives have walked the Earth alongside prehistoric reptiles. The exotic Bichir is in fact a remnant of an ancient lineage of fish, having about 60 million years of independent evolution.

What is ornate bichir (ornatipinnis)?

Ornate Bichir or Polypterus ornatipinnis is famous for the combination of dark and light colors in its body. Bright yellow patterns on the dark brown body make it more attractive, this is why aquarists often opt for this fish. The length of this fish is 24” (60.96 cm) and sometimes the dark brown color of their body turns grey.

How big does a Dinosaur Bichir get?

The slender, eel-like body of the Dinosaur Bichir is perfectly suited for traveling in heavily vegetated waters. Although they are not as large as other Bichirs, the Dinosaur Bichir size can reach up to 20 inches (50 cm) nonetheless.

What fish can live with a bichir?

They usually work well with larger fish, so think of the Oscars, Blood Parrot, Flowerhorns, Big Barbies, Knifefish, Medium and Large Catfish, and the Greater Peaceful African Cichlids. The bichirs are quite slow, so quickly active tank companions can have some problems stealing their food. You can have several bichirs together.

Why did my Bichir lose a fish?

Bichirs are basically very, very hardy animals, so to lose one tends to imply something has gone wrong. Since all your other fish are fine, you can probably rule out water quality. I’d expect (and have observed) cichlids to become distressed from such things well before Bichirs. Diet may be a factor.