Nile Bichir

About

The Nile Bichir (Polypterus bichir) is one of those fish that looks like it swam out of the prehistoric past, and in many ways it did. Native to the Nile and Chad basins of Africa, this species inhabits shallow, weedy waters where it spends long stretches resting near the surface. A habit tied to its ability to breathe atmospheric air directly, which allows it to thrive in low-oxygen environments that would stress most other fish. Despite its size, it moves with a surprisingly fluid, eel-like grace, bending and twisting through the water rather than swimming in the conventional sense. That elongated, heavily armored body is lined with a distinctive series of dorsal finlets, giving it an appearance unlike almost anything else in freshwater fishkeeping. In the wild it is a dedicated predator, hunting bottom-dwelling fish and using its fleshy pectoral fins to stalk prey along the substrate. In the aquarium it will live up to that reputation, so tankmates need to be large enough not to become a meal. Despite its predatory nature and impressive adult size, it is generally considered manageable for a keeper who can provide the substantial space it requires and a meaty diet. A long-lived and rewarding fish for anyone with a suitably large setup.