🐟 Senegal Bichir (Polypterus senegalus)
A Living Fossil • The Classic Entry Point Into the Bichir Family • Hardy, Prehistoric, and a Manageable Size
 
📋 The Senegal Bichir, sometimes called the Dinosaur Eel or Cuvier's Bichir (though it's not an eel), is one of the most popular bichirs thanks to its comparatively manageable size, hardy nature, and classic prehistoric look, with an elongated body, segmented dorsal finlets, and armour-like scales. It's one of the smaller Polypterus species kept in the hobby, reaching about 35cm, noticeably smaller than the Delhezi, Ornate, or Saddled Bichirs we also carry.
Like all bichirs, it has true lungs rather than a swim bladder, letting it gulp air at the surface and survive in low-oxygen water. It's a nocturnal, slow-cruising bottom predator with poor eyesight that hunts by smell, and it will eat anything small enough to swallow, so a good rule of thumb is tankmates at least half its own size.
The "semi-aggressive" label often used for bichirs is really about predatory instinct and not territorial aggression, and it can coexist with other bichirs of similar size. As with all bichirs, a tight-fitting, secure lid is essential.
 
💡 Highlights
🦖 Prehistoric Appearance: An armour-scaled body with segmented dorsal finlets
🫁 True Lungs: Breathes atmospheric air, survives low-oxygen water
📏 The Smallest of the Commonly Kept Bichirs: About 35cm at maximum
🌙 Nocturnal Hunter: Locates prey by smell, not sight
🔒 Needs a Secure Lid: An accomplished escape artist