: a large primitive fish (Polypterus bichir) of the order Cladistia found in the upper Nile and certain neighboring waters and esteemed as food.

What kind of fish is a Bichir?

Background. Bichirs belong to the Polypteridae family of fishes. Sometimes mistaken for eels, the Bichirs are primitive, freshwater fishes that first appeared around 60 million years ago at the end of the Mesozoic era. Bichirs are also known as dragonfish, dinosaur eels, and swamp dragons.

Are Bichirs aggressive?

Behavior: Bottom-feeders; moderately aggressive, but relatively peaceful with larger tankmates; nocturnal predator; territorial and aggressive towards other Bichirs of the same species; may escape from aquarium, lid highly recommended.

Are Bichirs good pets?

Bichirs are old-looking fish that could make a great addition to your tank. These fish are literally living fossils that can adapt to live on land. They are not fish for beginners as they require a certain attention to their care. They are nocturnal animals and quite hardy.

How big do Bichirs get?

Most species grow to between 30 and 60 cm (11.8 and 23.6 inches) long. Some members of the largest two species, the saddled bichirs (P. endlicherii) and Congo bichirs (P. congicus), grow to lengths of 75 cm (29.5 inches) and 97 cm (38.2 inches) and weights of 3.3 kg (7.3 pounds) and 4.4 kg (9.7 pounds), respectively.

What is special about bichir fish?

Bichirs are an interesting fish because they have a pair of lungs and need access to the surface to get oxygen. One of the main reasons for this is the waters where they come from are usually so swampy and dirty that it makes breathing a challenge. This design solves all that.

How do bichirs breed?

The female Bichir will deposit from 100 to 300 eggs during several days. She deposits several eggs each time, and the eggs are fertilized by the male when he cups his anal and caudal fins around the genital area of the female Bichir. The male takes the eggs, fertilizes them and they are then scattered over the plants.

Do Bichirs bite?

Captivity. Bichirs are predatory fish; in captivity they will take any live or dead animal that can be swallowed or broken apart and then swallowed. It will also bite fins of other fishes if it can.

How do you feed a bichir?

Feeding. The bichir is a carnivore, and very rarely eats dried foods. Therefore, a diet of frozen or live foods is recommended for larger fish, including shrimp, baitfish, mussels, and earthworms. Smaller specimens will also eat mosquito larvae, bloodworms, and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp.

What can Bichirs live with?

Their body is quite scaly which really adds to their overall reptilian look. These cover most of their body with the exception of a small patch on the underside of their heads. Bichir have two large pectoral fins which they rely on heavily for mobility when swimming.

Can you keep Oscars with Bichirs?

While nowhere near as large as Peacock Bass, Oscars are still large predators so be careful when keeping them with smaller Bichirs. However any of the medium to large species are excellent tank mates.