Poll's Bichir

About

Found across central Africa, this small bichir subspecies, Polypterus palmas polli, belongs to one of the oldest lineages of ray-finned fishes still alive today. The body is elongated and covered in hard, interlocking ganoid scales that give it an almost prehistoric look, and the distinctive row of finlets running along the back makes it unmistakable in any tank. Like all bichirs, it possesses a primitive lung-like organ that lets it gulp air at the surface, which means it can tolerate low-oxygen conditions that would stress most other fish. In the aquarium it spends the majority of its time close to the substrate, nosing around driftwood, rocks, and other cover. It is not a particularly active swimmer during daylight hours, preferring to sit tight and wait, though it becomes more animated after lights-out. As a carnivore it will go after anything small enough to fit in its mouth, so tankmates need to be chosen with care. Robust, similarly sized fish that are not small enough to be swallowed are generally fine companions. Bichirs as a group are fairly forgiving of water quality fluctuations, making this subspecies a reasonable choice for a keeper who has moved past the beginner stage and wants something genuinely different.