Senegal bichir

Scientific Name: Polypterus senegalus
Common Names: Dragon eel, senegal bichir.

Origin: Centra Africa

Family: Polypteridae

Maximum Size: Up to 12'', sometimes larger.

Life Span: 10 years if cared for properly.

Diet: Senegal bichirs benefit from a varied diet of healthy foods. You'll need a staple diet. This is one food that will take up 75% of the fishes diet. A good choice for a staple diet is a pellet food, such as hikari carnivore. The rest of the fishes diet should be made up of a variety of other foods, such as blood worms, shrimp and krill.

Temperature: 75°-80° F

pH: Not sensitive, but avoid extremes.

Minimum Tank Size: Fifty-gallons for a bare minimum for one specimen, otherwise 75 gallons + while suffice.

Tank Region: This fish is generally a bottom dweller, but can be seen virtually anywhere in the tank.

Temperament: Generally peaceful, but can become aggressive at times.

Possible Tank Mates: Avoid fish small enough to be eaten (anything that can fit in the fishes mouth will likely be consumed), as well as anything that is overly aggressive.

Coloration: A dull gray covers this fishes body, with a white sheen on the belly.

Breeding: Rarely accomplished in home aquaria.