What is special about bichir fish?

What is a bichir fish?

A Bichir is any of several species of fish in the Polypteridae family. This family also contains the reedfish, also known as snakefish or ropefish. Researchers recognize 11 different species of Bichirs. All 11 species live rivers, streams, and floodplains in Africa. Read on to learn about the Bichir. These fish are quite unique looking.

Can a bichir live in a tank?

Bichirs have been living in tanks since the beginning of the 20-th century. Keeping the fish in a tank doesn’t seem to be a difficult task: these species are not demanding and are quite enduring, they can live in rather dirty water. However, this is a predator and only large fishes can be their tank mates.

How do Bichir fish move around?

They can use their pectoral fins and tail to move around. Interestingly, this has led to scientists trying to grow Bichirs on land which successfully adapted to ‘land-life’ giving insights on the first evolutionary steps of prehistoric animals living on land. Bichirs are living fossils that resemble ancient-looking fish.

What kind of fish is Bichir?

Bichirs (lat. Polypteridae) is a family of freshwater ray-finned fishes, the only one in the order Polypteriformes and subclass Cladistia. Nowadays, there are 14 modern genus of the fish known and spread over tropical Africa.

Do Bichir fish starve other fish?

Bichirs are quite slow-moving, so can have some problems with fast active tank mates stealing their food. As bottom-dwelling fish, they might starve as other fish can steal their food before reaching the bottom of the tank. Remember though, they are predatory fish.

Are Bichir fish good jumpers?

Bichir are also powerful jumpers and are known to wander off using their powerful pectoral fins after escaping from aquariums. They can even use their strong fins to climb out of the tank, so you could say they’re somewhat of a fish Houdini.

Can Bichir fish walk?

Bichirs are semi-aggressive fish and because of their predatory nature, they eat small fish in an aquarium and in nature. Apart from the looks, you will find uniqueness in its nature too as it can walk. At the time of walking, they look much like the reptiles. Actually their pectoral fins move around which can help them walk.

Why do Bichir fish burst into rapid movement?

Fleeing from danger is a common survival tactic in most organisms, bichirs are no different and will often burst into rapid movement in response to sudden threats. In the wild, their muscular structure allows for explosive bursts of speed over short distances and allows them to escape predation but can be dangerous in aquaria.

What does a bichir fish look like?

The spots sometimes turn yellow which enhances its looks. Bichirs are semi-aggressive fish and because of their predatory nature, they eat small fish in an aquarium and in nature. Apart from the looks, you will find uniqueness in its nature too as it can walk. At the time of walking, they look much like the reptiles.

What do Bichir fish eat?

Bichirs is a predator fish and you should feed it basically with live food: bloodworm, frozen shrimps and calamary, small fishes, pieces of ox heart and meat, earthworm. The fish may also feed on artificial food, but this kind of diet is not natural for it.

How many species of bichir fish are there?

There are about 12 species in this genus recognized as Bichirs all from freshwater systems of tropical Africa. These are quite large and aggressive fish that requires large tanks. They are recommended for experienced aquarists as they require special attention with their carnivorous diet and tank conditions.

What are the different types of bichir?

Dinosaur Bichir (Polypterus Senegalus) is widely popular among the aquarists and it is also known as Reed Fish, Swamp Dragon, Dinosaur Eel, Senegal Bichir, and Grey Bichir. Platinum Senegal Bichir is the latest discovery and it is a very popular one from this type.

Do Bichir fish need decorations in a tank?

Some aquarists advise to keep bichirs in an empty tank, to decrease their territory dependence. But the view of the fish swimming in a tank without decorations or caves is a bit depressing. On the other hand, the fish looks more fascinating when it is slowly creeping up between tank plants or stones in a good decorated tank.

Can Bichir fish live with other fish?

Bichirs are predatory fish, with a moderately aggressive temperament. They are problematic when kept with smaller size fish, as they will nip at their fins or even eat them. However, they seem to have no problems sharing their tank with larger fish. These fish are bottom-dwellers, and will spend most of their time near the bottom of the tank.

Do tankmates eat Bichir fish?

Tankmates must be large enough not to be eaten (Bichirs are predators after all) Slime sucking fish – There have been instances of fish such as plecos sucking the slime coat off of bichirs, keep an eye out for this behaviour.

Are polypterids Bichir?

Polypterids are classified under the subclass Actinopterygii, also known as ray-finned fish, and are one of the oldest lineages of fish alive today. The bichir group has a distinct lineage from the rest of the ray-finned fish, as can be seen in the diagram below. This was determined from genetic and morphological data

What is a bichir endlicheri?

One of these monsters is the Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri (pronounced “poll-it-er-us end-lick-err-eye end-lick-err-eye”). Reports claim that these Bichirs grow up to 30 inches and girths as thick as a man’s leg in the wild.

How to keep a bichir fish?

Bichirs are one of the easiest fishes to keep. You don’t need to be an expert fish hobbyist to be successful in keeping them. Keep water parameters normal and avoid the extremes are basically the only things to keep in mind. So pH of about 6.25 to 7.5 hardness of about dH 5.0 to 10.0 and temperatures between 24 to 30°C are ideal.

What is the Philippine name of the giant Bichir?

In other countries it is known as the Saddled Bichir or the Red Bichir. In the Philippines, it is called the Giant Banded Dragonfin, Giant Tiger Dragonfin, or simply, Endli. As with all Polypterus species, the P. endlicheri endlicheri is found in Africa.

How big do Bichir bichirs get?

One of these monsters is the Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri (pronounced “poll-it-er-us end-lick-err-eye end-lick-err-eye”). Reports claim that these Bichirs grow up to 30 inches and girths as thick as a man’s leg in the wild. Now that would be a very impressive specimen in the home aquarium, a very large one you must have though.

Can you keep multiple Bichir fish together?

You can keep multiple Birchirs together. They will often form ‘poly piles’ and are quite sociable creatures. You’ll need a large aquarium, and all the fish should be a similar size. Bichirs are quite hardy fish and will not present many troubles.

Can Bichir fish live on land?

Bichirs have a pair of lungs and are able to stay out the water for hours at a time provided their skin stays moist. These fish have an overbite which allows them to suck in prey when they open their mouths. Since this is a fish that can walk on land, scientists used it in an experiment to see what happens if a fish is raised on land.