Saddled Bichir
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Scientific Name: Polypterus endlicheri Price: Upon Request Origin: Africa: Nile - Congo Rivers Family: Polypteridae NOT AVAILABLE NOW |
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Other Names: Endlicheri Bichir |
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Technical Info
Temperature: 25 - 27 ℃
pH: 7 - 8
GH: 5 - 20
Max size: 75 cm
Min Tank size: 500 Ltr
Position in Aqua: No special swimming level
Description
The body is long and about as deep as it is wide. A serrated dorsal fin runs along most of the body until it meets the caudal fin. The pectoral fins attach just behind and below the gill openings and are the primary means of locomotion, providing a slow, graceful appearance. The pattern of the fish consists of irregular vertical bands along the flanks of the fish, that do not extend completely onto the ventral surface. They are normally a whitish-yellow colour, but are available in an albino and platinum colour morph. In the wild colour morph black spots are seen on and around the head, body and caudal fin. This is 'lower jaw' polypterus, and thus has a prominent lower jaw longer than the upper jaw.
Food
Feed meaty live foods such as black worms, blood worms, and earthworms along with frozen foods such as brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and beef heart. Dried foods are not always accepted, but eventually most Bichirs will accept a quality pellet, tablet, or stick that is suitable to their size. Bichirs are slow to find food as they have poor eyesite. They hunt in the wild predominantly by using smell.
Breeding
Has been achieved in aquaria but details are very scarce.
Compatible with
Not to be trusted with tankmates it can fit in its mouth but is relatively peaceful otherwise. Suitable tankmates include other Arowana, Synodontis, Datnoides, Knife Fish, large characins and some cichlids.
Note
The anal fin of the male is thicker than that of the female.