Polypterus senegalus

Common name(s) Senegal bichir, Cuvier's bichir Picture of Senegal bichir
Photo © Sean Evans

Scientific name Polypterus senegalus senegalus

Synonyms P. arnaudii

Size 12" (30cm), but can reach 16" (40cm) in the wild.

Origin Africa: East, West and central.

Tank setup Large tank, with bogwood and a few plants for decor, sandy substrate

Compatibility Predatory, keep with larger fish.

Temperature 25-27^oC (77-81^oF)

Water chemistry Fairly soft, slightly acidic (pH 6.5-7)

Feeding Carnivore, feed live foods and dead meaty foods such as earthworms, cockles, mussels and frozen fish such as silversides or whitebait.

Sexing The male has a wider anal fin.

Breeding The male may pursue the female for several hours before spawning occurs in a bushy plant. The female will deposit several weakly-adhesive eggs at a time. The young should be separated into small containers as they grow, to avoid them eating each other.

Comments May show aggression towards others of its own species, especially if the aquarium does not provide refuges for each fish. Like most bichirs, they have a reputation for escaping from tanks, so use a tight-fitting cover. Will eat small fish.
This is the most wide ranging of the Polypterus. Three subspecies are said to occur: P.s. senegalus, P.s. meridionalis and an un-named subspecies which lives in the Nile river system.

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This website was last updated on 18th January 2008

Common name(s)	Senegal bichir, Cuvier's bichir	`Photo © Sean Evans`
Scientific name	Polypterus senegalus senegalus
Synonyms	P. arnaudii
Size	12" (30cm), but can reach 16" (40cm) in the wild.
Origin	Africa: East, West and central.
Tank setup	Large tank, with bogwood and a few plants for decor, sandy substrate
Compatibility	Predatory, keep with larger fish.
Temperature	25-27^oC (77-81^oF)
Water chemistry	Fairly soft, slightly acidic (pH 6.5-7)
Feeding	Carnivore, feed live foods and dead meaty foods such as earthworms, cockles, mussels and frozen fish such as silversides or whitebait.
Sexing	The male has a wider anal fin.
Breeding	The male may pursue the female for several hours before spawning occurs in a bushy plant. The female will deposit several weakly-adhesive eggs at a time. The young should be separated into small containers as they grow, to avoid them eating each other.
Comments	May show aggression towards others of its own species, especially if the aquarium does not provide refuges for each fish. Like most bichirs, they have a reputation for escaping from tanks, so use a tight-fitting cover. Will eat small fish. This is the most wide ranging of the Polypterus. Three subspecies are said to occur: P.s. senegalus, P.s. meridionalis and an un-named subspecies which lives in the Nile river system.