Senegal bicher - Dinosaur Eel

By Andrew Christman AKA Snail
 
Common Name: Senegal bicher
Latin Name: Polypterus senegalus
Origin: Africa
Temperature: 77-84°F (25-29°C)
Ease Of Keeping: Easy
Aggressivness: Not very aggressive to fish it cannot swallow.
Lighting: Subdued
Adult Size: 12" (30cm) in the aquarium, 16" (40cm) in the wild
Minimum Tank Size: 50 Gallons breeder.
Feeding: Varies by individual, but pellets, worms, frozen food.
 
Comments: This ancient (Triassic Period) fish is unique in that it has lobed fins, extruding nostrils, and simple lungs. They have a very intelligent look about them, prehaps because of the way they study their surroundings. Although they are nocturnal, most will come out in the evening if enough hiding places are avalible to make it feel secure. They will slither out of the smallest of cracks in the hood, and can survive 8-10 hours out of water. Keep your tank well covered! They must also have 3 inches of air between the hood and the water level for them to breathe. They have become partially dependent on breathing oxygen and will die if not allowed to do so.

I bought my dinosaur eel last September a few weeks after I started up my aquarium (my first). He was 2.5-3 in. long when I got him. He is the only origional fish I still have. He is now over 4 inches and he alternates between periods of resting and lively activity. He eats whatever including krill, blood worms, brine shrimp, 10$ Bamboo shrimp, snails, as well as mollies, platties, guppies, and their offspring. He now shares the tank with two fair sized ciclids. He is our favorite and my daughter named him Oncolligon The Black after a Tolkein dragon.

It would be more helpful to people if you posted a picture of Polypterus senegalus senegalus rather than Polypterus Ornatapinnis which is a much larger growing and much more aggressive animal!

I have had mine for about two months. It seems like in the past week or two it has become less active and his fins look distressed. Is this normal? Any tips? Thoughts?

I have a 3.5 inch senegal bichir in a 55 and is 3 months old being feed earthworms and bloodworms. My favorite fish is between the senegal bichir and a 6 inch peacock eel.

I bought my dinosaur eel the same time with a dragonfish. They both grew from 2 to currently 9 inches in 3 months until the dragonfish was bellyup one morning and the dinosaur eel was eating the stomach. I had 5 black tetras in the tank before I introduced the predators, one has survived the duration. I have noticed that they had there own territories at the ends of the tank. The dragonfish liked to bury themselves in the gravel, while the dinosaur likes to relax on "real plants"like ferns until feeding time!

The bichir in the picture is acutal a ornate bichir and get to 24 inches or longer but is rare.

this was great cuz i just got my eel about 3-4 days ago and i was a little worried that i could see him eat and he didnt move alot like the other fish in the tank