Will Bichir eat my fish?

Will Bichir eat my fish?

Typical Behavior. Bichirs are predatory fish, with a moderately aggressive temperament. They are problematic when kept with smaller size fish, as they will nip at their fins or even eat them. However, they seem to have no problems sharing their tank with larger fish.

Do bichirs have bones?

The body is covered in thick, bonelike, and rhombic (ganoid) scales. Their jaw structure more closely resembles that of the tetrapods than that of the teleost fishes.

Are bichirs blind?

Registered. Bichirs are incredible creatures. They are naturally almost totally blind and deaf, and hunt mostly by smell.

How fast do bichir fish grow?

These fish will get up to a foot long and grow to at least 8″ in their first 6 months and will live to 12 years or more. All tankmates must be no smaller than 4″ long or may be eaten.

Do bichir have gills?

They are also proportionally pretty large. Their gills, in turn, are rather rudimentary and act mostly as complementary breathing organs. Interestingly, bichirs do not breathe air solely through their mouths, but also have a spiracle on both sides of their heads, though it’s hidden under their gill covers.

What do bichir fish eat?

Eating Characteristics: A carnivore, feed meaty foods such as earthworms, shrimp, bloodworms, mussels and fish fillets such as silversides. Feed once a day.

How big does a Senegal bichir get?

Tank size. Polypterus senegalus may grow to reach 16 inches in length in captivity. So, you will need an aquarium of at least 6ft x 2ft x 2ft with a 50-gallon capacity to accommodate this species.

What do I feed my Senegal bichir?

Feeding. The bichir is a carnivore, and very rarely eats dried foods. Therefore, a diet of frozen or live foods is recommended for larger fish, including shrimp, baitfish, mussels, and earthworms. Smaller specimens will also eat mosquito larvae, bloodworms, and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp.

What kind of fish is a bichir fish?

Bichir, (genus Polypterus ), any of about 10 species of air-breathing tropical fishes of the genus Polypterus native to freshwater river and lake systems in western and central Africa. Bichirs are classified in the family Polypteridae, order Polypteriformes. These fishes are elongated in form with fleshy lobes in…

What kind of body does a bichir have?

Bichirs have a number of other primitive characteristics, including fleshy pectoral fins superficially similar to those of lobe-finned fishes. They also have a pair of slit-like spiracles on the top of their heads that are used to breathe air, two gular plates, and paired ventral lungs (the left lung shorter than the right).

How many species of bichir are there in the world?

Bichir, (genus Polypterus), any of about 10 speciesof air-breathing tropical fishesof the genusPolypterusnative to freshwater riverand lake systems in western and central Africa. Bichirs are classified in the family Polypteridae, order Polypteriformes.

Where does the Bichir ray finned fish live?

Bichir. All species occur in freshwater habitats in tropical Africa and the Nile River system, mainly swampy, shallow floodplains and estuaries . Bichirs are considered the sister group to all other extant ray-finned fishes.