Data sheet Senegal bichirs
German name:
Senegal bichirs
Scientific name:
Polypterus senegalus
Origin:
West Africa
Size:
Body length up to 50 cm
Aquarium
Length:
Length from 170 cm width and from 50 cm width
Contents:
from 450 liters
water values
Temperature:
25°-28° C
pH:
6 – 8
GH:
5° – 19° dH
Behave
Area:
lower area
Lining:
Live food, dry food
Behave:
nocturnal, agile
Number:
pair keeping
Difficulty level:
medium Elma, Polyterus senegalus 2, CC BY 2.0
The home of the Senegal bichir is West Africa and the Nile region. It is a sociable fish that lives best with others of its own species. imports come from the Nile area or special breeding farms in Southeast Asia.
Polypterus senegalus belongs to the order Polypteriformes and the family Polypteridae. The bichir owes its name to the 5 to 18 individual, consecutive fins (single fins). These replace the dorsal fin. Its elongated, almost snake-like physique is striking. He also has one for the gills primitive lungs. Because it can breathe atmospheric air, it not only manages to stay in oxygen-poor waters, but can even survive out of water for a while. The most important identifying features are a black so-called tear line and a white mark on the upper jaw.
attitude
At least one pair is necessary for the species-appropriate keeping of this fish. In addition, it has to Aquarium spacious and measure from an edge length of 170 cm, but better more. Furthermore, the animals need a well-structured installation with lush border planting. Stones, roots, tubes and safe stone structures offer sufficient hiding places and resting places. Since the fish too together can lie in a hiding place, care must be taken to ensure that the caves are large.
Polypterus senegalus are inquisitive, skillful and nocturnal fish. In high spirits they can leave the aquarium jump, which is why a very good coverage is necessary! The optimal substrate is easy to lie on and consists of fine sand or gravel.
In nature they behave quite well predatory. Among other things, they eat aquatic invertebrates such as insect larvae, crustaceans, worms, but also small fish and amphibians. In the aquarium they get different types of live and frozen food (pieces of fish, mussel meat, mosquito larvae). You can also get used to dry food.
gender differences
The two sexes can hardly be distinguished from each other. The only sign is the anal finwhich is broader and more prominent in males than in females.
breed
A breed of free spawners in the aquarium is possible, but so far only rarely succeeded. When males and females breed, they snuggle up close and hunt each other.
The fertilized female lays about 200 to 300 larger eggs. There is no brood care. The hatched larvae look like newts. They are born with external gills, which recede as they develop.
socialization
The number of Senegal fin eels in a tank varies. Since the animals among each other already times snappy a maximum of one pair is recommended. Other fish in the common tank must not be too small, as they are considered food. The larger specimens should measure from about 10 cm.
When kept appropriate to the species, the species can live at least 10 years to reach.