Polypterus palmas

Common name(s) Marbled bichir, Shortfin bichir, Dinosaur eel Picture of Marbled bichirs
Polypterus palmas polli
Picture of Marbled bichirs, juveniles
Juveniles

Scientific name Polypterus palmas
(3 subspecies: P. p. palmas, P. p. polli and P. p. buettikoferi)

Synonyms Polypterus lowei

Size Up to 12" (30cm)

Origin W. and central Africa: Congo (formerly Zaire), Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea

Tank setup Large tank (suggest 48x15" floorspace, or more for a group). Bogwood, smooth rocks and a few plants for decor

Compatibility Predatory, keep with fish too large to be eaten. Not generally aggressive towards other species of larger fish.

Temperature 26-28^oC (79-82^oF)

Water chemistry Not critical: fairly soft and slightly acidic (pH 6.5-7) ideally.

Feeding Carnivore, feed live foods and dead meaty foods, such as cockles and mussels, and fish such as whitebait. Will also eat sinking catfish pellets.

Sexing The anal fin of the male is almost twice as wide as the female.

Breeding The male wraps his body around the female and produces sperm as he catches her eggs.
After fertilisation, the eggs fall to the substrate, hatching in about 4 days.

Comments Less aggressive towards other Polypterus than some of the other Polypterus species. Species of the P. palmas complex are quite commonly imported. Most of the fish imported in recent years as "palmas" are likely to be P. p. polli. These bichirs are quite active.

Back to Polypterus species list

Back to Home page

This website was last updated on 18th January 2008

Common name(s)	Marbled bichir, Shortfin bichir, Dinosaur eel	Polypterus palmas polli Juveniles
Scientific name	Polypterus palmas (3 subspecies: P. p. palmas, P. p. polli and P. p. buettikoferi)
Synonyms	Polypterus lowei
Size	Up to 12" (30cm)
Origin	W. and central Africa: Congo (formerly Zaire), Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea
Tank setup	Large tank (suggest 48x15" floorspace, or more for a group). Bogwood, smooth rocks and a few plants for decor
Compatibility	Predatory, keep with fish too large to be eaten. Not generally aggressive towards other species of larger fish.
Temperature	26-28^oC (79-82^oF)
Water chemistry	Not critical: fairly soft and slightly acidic (pH 6.5-7) ideally.
Feeding	Carnivore, feed live foods and dead meaty foods, such as cockles and mussels, and fish such as whitebait. Will also eat sinking catfish pellets.
Sexing	The anal fin of the male is almost twice as wide as the female.
Breeding	The male wraps his body around the female and produces sperm as he catches her eggs. After fertilisation, the eggs fall to the substrate, hatching in about 4 days.
Comments	Less aggressive towards other Polypterus than some of the other Polypterus species. Species of the P. palmas complex are quite commonly imported. Most of the fish imported in recent years as "palmas" are likely to be P. p. polli. These bichirs are quite active.