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Senegal Bichir (also known as Dinosaur Eel) is a popular fish with aquarists due to its unusual ‘lizard like’ look and attractive swimming pattern. They are a long, slender fish, gray to light brown in colour with a white underneath. They are a bottom dweller and do most of their foraging for food at night. Although they do not have good eyesight, Segal Bichir’s have a highly developed sense of smell and will know as soon as food is added to the tank.
Senegal Bichir’s will require a large tank with plenty of plants, rocks and drift wood to allow the fish to feel comfortable. The tank should also have a secure tight fitting lid with no gaps to avoid the fish from escaping. Senegal Bichir’s should not be housed with small tropical fish or fancy tailed fish, which they will try to eat. The main limitation preventing a bichir from emptying an aquarium of smaller fish is its speed. While it can achieve impressive bursts of speed, it has difficulty catching fish of average speed in open water. However, given enough time, any fish that can fit in the bichir’s large mouth will be ambushed and eaten.
Max Size: 30cm (12″) Lifespan: 10-20 years Origin: Africa Temperament: This fish is a predator and will eat smaller fish.
Diet: Carnivore (A suitable diet for a Senegal Bichir is sinking cichlid pellets, supplemented with meaty foods like shrimp, bloodworms and feeder fish)
Water Conditions Temperature: 25 to 27˚C Ph: 6.0 to 7.5 ph
Hardness: 5 to 19 dH
