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Ornate Bichir
Polypterus ornatipinnis
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Polypteriformes›Polypteridae
📍 Congo Basin & East Africa
The most strikingly patterned bichir — bold black reticulations on a yellow-cream body with striking dorsal finlets. Ancestral fish with a functional lung; can breathe air. Nocturnal predator that eats tankmates small enough to swallow.
Care Guide
Diet
Ornate bichirs are strict carnivores requiring live or frozen prey such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, small fish, and insect larvae. Feed 2-3 times weekly, offering portions they can consume in a few minutes. They may eventually accept high-quality sinking carnivore pellets, but live/frozen foods should remain the dietary staple.
Behavior
Nocturnal and reclusive, ornate bichirs spend daylight hours hiding among plants and décor, becoming active hunters at night. They are semi-aggressive predators that will consume any fish small enough to swallow, including small tetras and shrimp. They possess a functional lung and occasionally surface to gulp air, a normal behavior.
Breeding
Breeding in captivity is extremely rare and difficult, with few documented successes in the aquarium hobby. They require very large tanks, specific water conditions, and pairs may not spawn reliably even under ideal conditions. Most specimens in the hobby are wild-caught, making captive breeding impractical for most aquarists.
Tank Mates
Similar size and nocturnal habits; occupies different ecological niche on substrate
Nocturnal bottom-dweller; too large to be predated upon; similar water requirements
Armored body deters predation; nocturnal; comparable size and habitat preference
Large schooling fish that may be too quick to prey upon; monitor behavior closely
Large, robust fish that cannot be eaten; similar water temperature range
Eel-like body and nocturnal behavior; similar size and habitat requirements
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, scratching against décor, labored breathing
Raise temperature to 28-30°C, perform 25% water changes daily, use aquarium salt (1 tsp per 5 gallons) or ich medication; treat for 10-14 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fin edges, discoloration at fin bases, lethargy
Improve water quality with frequent partial water changes, remove sharp décor, use antibacterial medication if severe; ensure pristine tank conditions
Bacterial Infection
Open sores, cloudy eyes, loss of appetite, fin damage, behavioral changes
Perform 50% water change immediately, treat with broad-spectrum antibiotic medication, maintain optimal water parameters and temperature
Parasitic Infection
Excessive scratching, visible parasites on body, weight loss, clamped fins
Use anti-parasitic medication as directed; quarantine if possible; maintain excellent water quality and perform frequent partial water changes
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Quick Facts
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- diet
- carnivore/live or frozen prey
- maxSize
- 18 inches
- minTankSize
- 90 gallons
- temperature
- 77–82°F (25–28°C)
Temperature
77–82°F
25–28°C