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Contents
Overview
The Senegal bichir looks like something from another age, and in a sense it is. Bichirs are an ancient lineage of fish with thick, diamond-shaped scales, a row of small finlets along the back and fleshy pectoral fins they prop themselves on. They have primitive lungs and regularly rise to gulp air.
It lives in rivers, lakes and swamps across much of West and Central Africa and the Nile. It is calm, curious and extremely hardy, so it is often sold as an easy fish. To be honest about it: it reaches about 12 inches (30 cm), lives more than fifteen years and eats any fish that fits in its mouth. It belongs in a large tank with medium to large species, never in a tetra community.
Care and tank setup
An adult needs at least an 80-gallon (300-liter) tank, and above all a big footprint: 4 ft (120 cm) long and 18 in (45 cm) wide or more. Height matters little. The critical point is a sealed lid: bichirs are born escape artists that squeeze through tiny gaps and can survive briefly out of water, which does not stop them from dying on the floor.
- Leave a small air gap under the lid so it can breathe at the surface.
- Fine sand, driftwood, flat rocks and roomy caves; moderate light.
- Hardy, well-anchored plants such as anubias, Java fern and crypts.
- Strong filtration, since a meaty diet means a lot of waste. Keep it cycled at 75-82°F (24-28°C) with weekly water changes.
Tankmates: sturdy fish at least half its size, such as calm medium cichlids, large barbs or bigger synodontis. No tetras, rasboras, guppies or shrimp. Also avoid aggressive species and fin nippers, which damage its dorsal finlets.
Feeding
It is a carnivore that hunts more by smell than sight. Offer shrimp, mussel, chopped white fish, earthworms, mysis and large bloodworms, plus sinking carnivore pellets, which most accept readily. Feed adults four or five times a week and remove leftovers. Skip live feeder fish: they carry disease and add nothing a varied diet cannot provide.
Breeding
It has been bred in aquariums, but rarely and unpredictably. Spawning happens among dense plants after water changes that mimic the rainy season, and the larvae have striking external gills. Most fish in the trade come from Asian farms. At home, the sensible goal is a single, well-kept bichir enjoyed for many years.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Senegal bichir. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare 53 gal (200 L) · 75–84 °F (24–29 °C) 
Clown loach Chromobotia macracanthus 132 gal (500 L) · 77–86 °F (25–30 °C) 
Blue acara Andinoacara pulcher 53 gal (200 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Blood parrot cichlid Amphilophus hybrid 53 gal (200 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Firemouth cichlid Thorichthys meeki 53 gal (200 L) · 75–84 °F (24–29 °C) 
Kissing gourami Helostoma temminckii 79 gal (300 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Severum Heros severus 79 gal (300 L) · 75–84 °F (24–29 °C) 
Bala shark Balantiocheilos melanopterus 264 gal (1000 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Twig catfish Farlowella vittata 26 gal (100 L) · 75–81 °F (24–27 °C) 
Geophagus altifrons Geophagus altifrons 159 gal (600 L) · 79–86 °F (26–30 °C) 
Yoyo loach Botia almorhae 53 gal (200 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Senegal bichir, and why.
- Cherry barb: one may eat the other due to size
- Tiger barb: one may eat the other due to size
- Betta fish: one may eat the other due to size
- Bronze cory: one may eat the other due to size
- Panda cory: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size
- Zebra danio: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size
- Guppy: one may eat the other due to size
- Dwarf gourami: one may eat the other due to size
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Senegal bichir healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Senegal bichir need?
At least about 300 liters. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Senegal bichir need?
Between 24 and 28 °C, with a pH of 6.2 to 7.8.
What fish can live with the Senegal bichir?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Bristlenose pleco, Angelfish, Clown loach, Blue acara and Blood parrot cichlid. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Senegal bichir be kept with shrimp?
Not recommended: because of its size or instinct, it will eat shrimp.
