Easy to intermediate
Chocolate Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
£13.99
Barred / Delhezi Bichir is a patterned Polypterus for spacious covered aquariums with soft substrate, surface access, meaty foods and robust tank mates.
Polypterus delhezi
Barred / Delhezi Bichir is a patterned Polypterus for spacious covered aquariums with soft substrate, surface access, meaty foods and robust tank mates.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Barred / Delhezi Bichir (Polypterus delhezi) is a patterned, prehistoric-looking oddball fish for keepers who can offer a spacious covered aquarium. It has the classic bichir body plan: armoured scales, separate dorsal finlets, a broad head, and a slow deliberate hunting style. The dark vertical bars across the body make it more striking than many plain Senegal-type bichirs.
This is not a nano fish or a casual community-tank choice. It is a predatory, air-breathing bottom fish that needs floor space, secure covers, steady filtration, soft substrate and tank mates chosen around adult size. Kept properly, it becomes a fascinating long-term centrepiece for an oddball, bichir or larger peaceful predator aquarium.
| Common names | Barred Bichir, Delhezi Bichir, Banded Bichir, Armoured Bichir |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Polypterus delhezi |
| Native range | Congo River Basin in Central Africa |
| Adult size | Often 30-35 cm in aquariums; maximum records are larger, around 44 cm total length |
| Care level | Intermediate |
| Minimum aquarium | About 350 litres for juveniles and smaller adults; a long footprint is more important than height |
| Temperature | 24-28 C, with stable warm water preferred |
| pH | Approximately 6.0-8.0 |
| Temperament | Predatory, usually calm with fish too large to swallow |
| Diet | Meaty sinking foods, earthworms, mussel, prawn, fish pieces and quality carnivore pellets |
Polypterus delhezi is a true bichir, not an eel, loach or catfish. It belongs to the ancient Polypteridae family and has the dorsal finlets that make bichirs instantly recognisable. Reliable references describe the species with around 10-13 dorsal finlets and dark vertical body bars. These markings can vary between individuals, with some fish showing bold saddle-like bands and others showing more broken blotching.
The recovered source photo has been restored to this listing because it shows the real delhezi body shape and pattern much better than relying on AI images alone. Juveniles may look slimmer and paler on arrival, then fill out as they settle and feed well. Dark substrate, shaded cover and low stress usually help pattern contrast.
Plan the aquarium around adult footprint rather than the size of the fish on dispatch day. A long tank gives the bichir room to patrol, turn and rest without constantly bumping into glass. Depth is less important than floor area, but surface access is essential because bichirs breathe atmospheric air. Leave the top clear enough for easy surfacing.
A tight lid is not optional. Bichirs can push through gaps around pipework, heaters and cable cut-outs. Secure every opening before the fish arrives. Use soft sand or smooth fine gravel, rounded wood, stable caves and shaded resting spots. Avoid sharp rocks and narrow hides where an adult fish could scrape itself or become wedged.
Barred Bichirs are adaptable when settled, but stable clean water is still the difference between surviving and thriving. Keep temperature around 24-28 C, pH roughly 6.0-8.0 and hardness moderate. Sudden swings are more dangerous than a slightly imperfect but consistent value. Use mature biological filtration and enough mechanical filtration to handle meaty foods.
This species is carnivorous. Offer a varied diet of earthworms, mussel, prawn, white fish pieces, bloodworm for smaller specimens and quality sinking carnivore pellets. Feed after lights dim or when the fish is actively searching. Many bichirs learn a routine and become confident once they understand where food appears.
Avoid routine feeder fish. They are unnecessary, can introduce parasites and often give worse nutrition than prepared meaty foods. Remove leftovers promptly, because chunks of seafood can foul the aquarium quickly. Juveniles can take smaller regular meals; larger fish usually do well on measured meals several times per week rather than constant heavy feeding.
The rule is simple: if it fits in the mouth, it may become food. Avoid small tetras, guppies, rasboras, shrimp, small Corydoras, tiny loaches and delicate bottom dwellers. Better companions are robust fish too large to swallow, such as similarly sized bichirs, larger calm cichlids, sturdy catfish and peaceful oddballs in a roomy tank.
Do not mix with aggressive fin nippers or fish that compete violently for food. Bichirs are often calm, but they are still predators and can be clumsy during feeding. Give every bottom fish enough territory and target-feed when needed so one bold tank mate does not steal every meal.
A settled delhezi often rests under cover by day and becomes more active at dusk. It may cruise along the substrate, lift to the surface for air, then return to the bottom. Surface breathing is normal. Frantic gulping, gasping with poor balance, or repeated escape attempts suggest a water-quality, oxygen, heat or stress issue that needs immediate checking.
When moving a bichir, avoid rough nets that catch finlets. Use a large soft net, container or bag method and keep handling brief. They are tough-looking fish, but damaged skin and fins can become infected if water quality is poor.
Healthy fish have clear eyes, intact finlets, steady breathing, good body condition and a strong feeding response. Watch for cloudy eyes, rubbed snouts, red patches, fungus on scrapes, thin body shape, refusal of familiar foods or repeated attempts to leave the tank. Most problems trace back to sharp decor, poor water, insecure covers, stress from tank mates or unsuitable food.
Quarantine new fish where possible, especially if adding to an established bichir group. Primitive fish can be sensitive to harsh medication dosing, so check suitability carefully before treating. The first response to illness should be water testing, temperature confirmation and a review of recent changes.
This parent product includes multiple size variants. Smaller 5-6 cm juveniles suit keepers who want to grow the fish on and can protect them from larger tank mates. Mid-size 7-10 cm fish are easier to feed confidently and show stronger pattern. Larger 10-12 cm fish suit displays where visibility and immediate presence matter. Choose the size that matches your current tank mates, not just the price.
Prepare the aquarium before dispatch day. Check that the lid is secure, the heater is protected, the filter is mature and the lights can be dimmed. On arrival, float the sealed bag to match temperature, then acclimate steadily. Do not chase the fish around with a small net; use a large soft net or container and keep the move calm. Leave the lights low for the first evening and offer only a small meal once the fish is settled and exploring.
Because bichirs gulp air, make sure the surface is accessible from the moment the fish enters the tank. Floating plants are fine if they leave open breathing space. Heavy surface cover, condensation trays with tiny gaps, or tight bracing that blocks access can cause stress even when the water itself tests well.
Compared with Senegal Bichir, Delhezi usually has stronger patterning and a chunkier display presence, though both are manageable first bichirs for keepers with appropriate space. Compared with Saddled or Endlicherii-type bichirs, it stays more practical for many home aquariums while still looking like a proper primitive predator. Compared with ornate or rarer Polypterus, it is often easier to source and easier to plan around.
If this is your first bichir, the main decision is not just species choice but tank design. A secure lid, soft substrate, large footprint and meaty feeding routine matter more than chasing an unusual variety. If you already keep bichirs, Delhezi works well as part of a carefully matched group where all fish are similar in size and no individual is small enough to be swallowed.
Keep maintenance predictable. Test water after heavy feeding weeks, clean pre-filters before they clog, and remove leftover meaty food quickly. Water changes should be large enough to control nitrate but gentle enough not to shock the fish. Check the lid every time you service the tank; gaps often appear after moving hoses, filters or cables.
A good long-term setup feels calm: shaded resting areas, open floor space, stable warm water and a feeding routine the fish recognises. That is when this species shows its best behaviour, cruising slowly at dusk and resting confidently in view rather than hiding constantly.
Barred Bichirs are packed for UK live-animal courier delivery with insulation and seasonal protection where needed. The Live Arrival Guarantee applies when the delivery and acclimation instructions are followed. Keep the lid secure before opening the bag, dim the lights, acclimate steadily and feed lightly while the fish settles.
New customers can use WELCOME10 for 10% off their first order where the promotion is active. For this species, useful add-ons include carnivore pellets, frozen meaty foods, secure lid clips, water conditioner and test kits.
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
23–27°C · pH 7.4–8.4 · 500L
20–27°C · pH 6–7 · 54L
23–27°C · pH 7.4–8.4 · 150L
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.8 · 300L
20–24°C · pH 7–8 · 45L
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.5 · 2000L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 200L
24–28°C · pH 5.5–7 · 60L
18–25°C · pH 6–8 · 100L
24–28°C · pH 7–8 · 120L
18–28°C · pH 6.5–8 · 20L
24–27°C · pH 7.5–8.8 · 150L
22–26°C · pH 6–7.5 · 60L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 40L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 500L