Easy to intermediate
Chocolate Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
£13.99
Normal-form Senegal Bichir in three live size bands, for a long covered aquarium with surface access, mature filtration and size-safe tank mates.
Polypterus senegalus
Normal-form Senegal Bichir in three live size bands, for a long covered aquarium with surface access, mature filtration and size-safe tank mates.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Senegal Bichir is a long-bodied, air-breathing African fish with armoured-looking scales, separate dorsal finlets and an unmistakably prehistoric profile. This listing is for the normal grey-gold form of Polypterus senegalus, offered in three live size options. One selected quantity supplies one live, unsexed fish in the chosen size band.
This is one of the more manageable bichir species, but "manageable" does not mean small or suitable for a general community aquarium. It is a substantial nocturnal predator that needs a long permanent aquarium, a tightly secured lid, clear access to surface air, soft substrate and companions that cannot fit in its mouth.
| Species | Senegal Bichir, Polypterus senegalus Cuvier, 1829 |
|---|---|
| Colour form | Normal grey-gold form with dark eyes; this is not the separate albino product |
| Available size bands | 6 cm, 8-10 cm and 12-15 cm |
| Sale unit | One live, unsexed fish per selected quantity |
| Care level | Intermediate, with large-predator planning required |
| Temperament | Predatory and generally calm toward fish too large to swallow |
| Activity zone | Lower aquarium, with unobstructed access to the surface |
| Long-term aquarium | Start planning at 450 litres and a 150 x 60 cm footprint for one adult; larger is preferred |
| Temperature | 25-28°C |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 |
| Hardness | 5-25 dGH |
| Diet | Varied meaty foods and complete sinking carnivore pellets where accepted |
| Essential equipment | Escape-proof lid, mature filtration, heater guard where needed and open surface access |
Size choice is not a tank-size shortcut. The centimetre label is the approximate dispatch band, not the adult size and not a guarantee of age, sex or exact measurement. Choose the option that suits your existing tank mates and feeding plan, while building the permanent setup around the adult fish.
The fish sold here is the normal form: typically grey, olive or muted gold, with a dark eye. Albino Senegal bichirs are a distinct colour form with much paler pigmentation and pink-red eyes. The albino form is available as a separate product; the two forms should not be confused when choosing stock or interpreting photographs.
The first gallery image is a verified normal-form reference. Older pale gallery renders are retained for transparent colour-form comparison and are labelled accordingly; they are not photographs of the normal-form fish supplied from this listing. Colour, markings and body condition naturally vary between live individuals.
Aquarium references often describe Senegal bichirs around 30-40 cm, while FishBase records a much larger maximum published standard length of 70 cm. These figures describe different evidence boundaries: neither is a promise for an individual fish. The responsible approach is to plan for a large, strong-bodied adult and to treat the dispatch size as temporary.
For one adult, we recommend beginning at approximately 450 litres with at least a 150 x 60 cm footprint. A 180 x 60 cm footprint is preferable where space permits, where more than one bichir is kept, or where other large bottom-oriented fish share the aquarium. This is a conservative husbandry starting point rather than a proven biological threshold. Floor area, width, cover, filtration capacity and lid security matter more than litres alone.
| Planning factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Tank length | Provides cruising room and separates feeding zones |
| Front-to-back width | Allows a substantial adult to turn comfortably and use hides |
| Secure lid | Prevents escape while preserving safe access to atmospheric air |
| Mature filtration | Supports a carnivorous fish with a meaningful waste load |
| Open floor routes | Reduces scraping and lets the fish move between cover and food |
Use soft sand or smooth fine gravel, stable pieces of wood, rounded caves and shaded resting places. Keep broad routes open along the bottom. Sharp rock, rough ornaments and narrow holes can damage the belly, fins or scales, especially when the fish turns quickly after dark.
Subdued lighting and planted or shaded areas help this naturally crepuscular fish settle. Robust attached plants can work, although a large bichir may dislodge lightly rooted stems while moving. Use moderate, well-distributed flow rather than forcing the fish to rest in a constant jet. Provide strong gas exchange without blocking the surface.
Guard heaters where a resting fish could remain in contact with a hot surface. Check the lid from the fish's point of view: gaps around cables, filters, returns and feeding flaps must be closed. A weighted lid is not enough if a corner remains open.
Senegal bichirs are facultative air breathers. Regular trips to the surface are normal behaviour, not automatically a sign of low oxygen. The fish must be able to reach a clean pocket of air throughout its life. Never fill or decorate the aquarium in a way that traps the animal beneath a sealed cover.
Air breathing does not excuse poor water quality. Maintain effective biological filtration, surface movement and oxygenation, and investigate any sudden increase in breathing rate, frantic surfacing or loss of balance. Those changes can still indicate stress, heat, gill irritation or deteriorating water.
| Parameter | Target | Practical control |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 25-28°C | Use a reliable heater and thermometer; avoid abrupt changes |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 | Keep stable rather than chasing a precise number |
| Hardness | 5-25 dGH | Match the aquarium gradually during acclimation |
| Ammonia | 0 mg/L | Test immediately if appetite, breathing or behaviour changes |
| Nitrite | 0 mg/L | Use a mature biofilter sized for a carnivorous adult |
| Nitrate | Low and stable | Control with water changes, feeding discipline and maintenance |
Introduce the fish only to a fully cycled aquarium. Because bichirs can tolerate conditions that make them look deceptively resilient, use test results rather than appearance alone. Remove uneaten meaty food promptly and service mechanical filtration before trapped waste decays.
Offer a varied carnivorous diet sized to the fish's mouth. Useful foods include earthworms from a safe source, thawed prawn, mussel, cockle, krill and suitable frozen aquatic foods. A nutritionally complete sinking carnivore pellet is valuable where accepted. Smaller arrivals may begin with smaller frozen foods before moving onto larger portions.
| Use regularly | Use with care | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Complete sinking carnivore pellets, varied aquatic invertebrate foods | Rich shellfish portions; adjust quantity to body condition | Live feeder fish, mammal or poultry meat, oversized chunks |
| Small observed meals placed near the fish | Food left after lights-out; remove leftovers promptly | One-food diets and repeated overfeeding |
Feed after the lights dim or use feeding tongs to place food near the fish. Observe it swallow rather than assuming food that disappears was eaten by the bichir. Juveniles usually need smaller, more frequent meals; established adults can receive larger but less frequent portions. Adjust to growth, body condition, temperature and competition rather than following a rigid timetable.
A Senegal bichir is often peaceful in the territorial sense, but it remains an opportunistic predator. Any fish or invertebrate that can enter its mouth may be eaten, especially after dark. Choose calm, robust companions with sufficient body depth, and reassess compatibility as the bichir grows.
| Lower-risk choices in sufficient space | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Suitably sized bichirs introduced with adequate floor area | Small tetras, rasboras, guppies and juvenile fish |
| Robust catfish that cannot be swallowed and do not carry dangerous spines | Ornamental shrimp and other bite-sized invertebrates |
| Larger, calm cichlids with compatible water needs | Fin nippers, aggressive cichlids and persistent harassers |
| Large peaceful oddball fish with separate feeding zones | Frantic feeders that prevent the bichir from eating |
Do not estimate safety from current size alone. A tank mate that is safe beside a 6 cm juvenile may become prey as the bichir matures. Conversely, very large aggressive fish can injure a young bichir. Quarantine additions and have a separation plan before combining valuable livestock.
Eligible livestock orders are covered by the current Live Arrival Guarantee under its published terms. Code WELCOME10 is currently active for 10% off where checkout eligibility and current terms allow.
A healthy settled bichir should hold its body level, surface cleanly for air, rest without rolling and show a controlled feeding response. Track appetite, body fullness, breathing pattern, skin, fins and any abrasions. Persistent floating, loss of balance, red lesions, heavy breathing, refusal of several expected meals or progressive thinning require water testing and informed aquatic-veterinary advice.
Quarantine new fish where practical. Do not medicate by guesswork: scaleless-looking or unusual fishes are often treated too aggressively, and a product label does not replace species-appropriate dosing advice.
Species identity follows Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes, FishBase and GBIF. Air-breathing guidance is supported by published polypterid research in Nature Communications and respiratory work on Polypterus senegalus. Aquarium recommendations combine those biological records with conservative captive-care practice.
Wild maximum length, aquarium planning size and dispatch size are not interchangeable. Minimum aquarium advice is a husbandry recommendation, not a guaranteed biological threshold. Individual behaviour, colour, feeding response, sex and final size vary, so the keeper must continue observing and adapting the setup.
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