🐟 Ornate Bichir (Polypterus ornatipinnis)
A Living Fossil in Black and Gold • The Largest of the "Upper Jaw" Bichirs • A Showpiece for Big-Tank Keepers
 
📋 The Ornate Bichir is one of the most striking bichirs, with high-contrast black and gold marbled patterning across the body and fins. It's native to the Congo River basin and Lake Tanganyika in Central and East Africa, and like all bichirs it has true lungs, letting it breathe atmospheric air and survive in low-oxygen water.
It's also the largest of the "upper jaw" bichirs, reaching about 60cm, significantly bigger than our other bichir species, and a juvenile in a store tank looks nothing like the adult it will become. That makes it a showpiece for keepers ready to give it room: plan on at least 650L (170+ gallons) for a single adult, and not the smaller tanks that suit our other bichirs.
It's generally peaceful, but it can be assertive at close quarters, so think carefully before mixing it with tankmates. What's consistent is that it will eat anything small enough to swallow, and it prefers stable water, since it doesn't tolerate pH swings well despite acclimating to a range of water conditions.
 
💡 Highlights
📏 The Largest "Upper Jaw" Bichir: Reaches about 60cm
🎨 Striking Black-and-Gold Marbling: One of the most dramatic bichirs
🫁 True Lungs: Breathes atmospheric air, survives low-oxygen water
🏠 A Showpiece for Big Tanks: At least 650L for a single adult
🔒 Needs a Secure Lid: A strong escape artist