Senegal bichir

The Senegal bichir is an ancient, eel-like ray-finned fish of the family Polypteridae, native to freshwaters across much of Africa. It has an elongated grayish body, a series of small dorsal finlets, and paddle-like pectoral fins; it also possesses lungs and can breathe air at the surface. It is a slow-moving, largely nocturnal predator that is peaceful toward fish too large to swallow but will eat smaller tankmates. It can be kept singly or in groups and generally ignores non-prey companions, spending much of its time resting on the bottom. It is a hardy, adaptable species suited to a spacious tank with a soft substrate, hiding places, and a tightly secured lid, as it is a determined escape artist. It is a carnivore taking meaty foods such as earthworms, shrimp, fish pieces, and sinking carnivore pellets. It locates food largely by smell, so slow eaters should not be outcompeted.