Senegal bichir
Polypterus senegalus
An ancient air-breathing 'dragon fish' that can live over 30 years, grows to nearly 20 inches and swallows anything that fits in its mouth.
Key facts
- Body length
- 19.7 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 168 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Predatory
- Care level
- 4 / 5
- Lifespan
- 30–34 years
- Diet
- Sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworm, krill and shrimp
- Origin
- West Africa to the Nile basin
- Hardier than16%
- Bigger than97%
- Calmer than5%
Water: their range vs yours
Senegal bichir tank mates
- OscarGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Assassin snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Red swamp crayfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Redclaw crayfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black ghost knifefishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Jaguar cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Pearlscale cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Banded archerfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blue dolphin cichlidSenegal bichir can eat young or small Blue dolphin cichlid; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterSenegal bichir can eat young or small Chinese algae eater; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Clown loachSenegal bichir (predatory) will bully the peaceful Clown loach.Risky
- Common plecoSenegal bichir (predatory) will bully the peaceful Amazon sailfin catfish (common pleco).Risky
- Leopard sailfin plecoSenegal bichir (predatory) will bully the peaceful Leopard sailfin pleco.Risky
- Bladder snailSenegal bichir (predatory) will bully the peaceful Bladder snail.Risky
- Neon tetraSenegal bichir can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 12.5 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraSenegal bichir can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 12.5 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppySenegal bichir can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 12.5 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasSenegal bichir can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 12.5 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusSenegal bichir can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 12.5 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpSenegal bichir can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 12.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for Senegal bichirs: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 50 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 1070.53 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 85.45 BU
- Min. water
- 540 L net
- Min. footprint
- 150 × 60 cm per specimen
- Min. height
- 60 cm
- Group
- 1+ (best 1)
- Swims in
- bottom
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- slender eel, normal fins
- Diet type
- carnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Polypterus senegalus · FishBase: Polypterus senegalus
Care notes
Senegal bichirs live in shallow, slow swamps and lagoons across Africa from Senegal to Egypt. They breathe air at the surface and are most active at dusk.
An adult needs a 5-foot tank of 125 gallons or more, where floor space matters more than depth. A tight lid is essential because they are escape artists, and any fish that fits in the mouth will be eaten.
Questions
What size tank does a senegal bichir need?
At least 168 gallons (540 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 19.7 inches without fins.
How many Senegal bichirs should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do Senegal bichirs need?
75–82 °F, pH 6.2–7.8 and 5–20 dGH. Senegal bichirs come from West Africa to the Nile basin.
How long do Senegal bichirs live?
30–34 years with good care.
What fish can live with Senegal bichirs?
Good tank mates include Oscar, Assassin snail, Red swamp crayfish, Redclaw crayfish and Black ghost knifefish. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.