Guinean bichir

The Guinean bichir is a large, ancient-looking predatory fish from the slow rivers and floodplains of West Africa. Like other Polypterus it has an eel-like armoured body, paired lungs allowing it to gulp air, and a dorsal row of finlets. It is one of the biggest and most robust bichirs, so it needs a long, wide aquarium with a soft sandy bottom, driftwood, and a tight-fitting lid because it is a determined escape artist. Water should be warm at 25-29 C, soft to moderately hard, and around neutral pH. Largely nocturnal and semi-aggressive, it will swallow any tankmate small enough to fit its mouth, so choose sturdy companions of similar size. Feed meaty foods: earthworms, prawns, mussels and fish fillet. It can exceed 60 cm and lives many years.