NEWS 110
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Some specimens are yellowish with black eyes, and are termed lutinos.
Below: Portrait of the old black female, a so-called melano; above: a fully albino specimen with typical red eyes.
They make no demands at all regarding
water chemistry, and can be kept in any
water suitable for humans to drink.Senegal
Bichirs are completely peaceful among
themselves and towards any fishes too
large to be viewed as food. They are best
kept in a small group of 4-6 specimens.The
aquarium for this should be around 120 cm
long. The decor is of no importance to the
bichirs but these rather stiff-bodied fishes
should be allowed sufficient swimming
space and the tank shouldn't be too
densely planted. A moderate current, a
substrate of soft sand, muted light (bichirs
are crepuscular/nocturnal), and a water
temperature of 24-28 °C (sometimes lower
to stimulate breeding, but best if the
temperature doesn't drop below 18 °C) will
ensure the well-being of Senegal bichirs.
The best food to offer is larger frozen foods
(mussels, shrimps, Stint, cuttlefish, etc), plus
occasional live food in the form of
earthworms. Around 25% of the water
should be changed weekly.
For breeding the water changes should
cease for a number of weeks and the usual
maintenance
temperature
be
simultaneously lowered.Then several large
water changes (80-90% of the tank
volume) should be performed in rapid
succession (at intervals of 1-2 days), if
possible using somewhat softer water. And
finally the temperature should be raised to
around 28 °C.
The males drive rather vigorously and
displaywith the anal fin spreadwide,and the
eggs are scattered loose in the tank.
Depending on the size of the female there
may be several hundred eggs.
Lexicon
Bichirs
Polypterus
means ”many-finned”
referring to the dorsal finlets.
senegalus
means ”from Senegal”.
