Barred Bichir Polypterus delhezi
Living Fossil: The Barred Bichir (Polypterus delhezi)
Also known as the Armored Bichir or Delhez’s Bichir, this is a beautiful species from a very old group of fishes with many traits that set them apart from their fishy peers. Thedorsal fin is very distinct in its shape, made up of a series of individual spines. They have a mostly cartilaginous body (like a shark’s) and the primitive shape of its jawbones (more like a salamander’s than a fish’s). It has a modified swim bladder that functions as a kind of lung,which means that they will regularly gulp air at the surface and could even drown if they were prevented from doing so.
Its scales are primitive too, being covered with “ganoin”, a substance with similarities to tooth enamel. Each scale is shaped like a rhombus and non¬overlapping with those surrounding it (again, quite unusual for a fish).Bichir fossils are known from the Cretaceous, meaning these fishes survived the extinction which wiped out the dinosaurs, but the group they belong to (Cladistia) is way older, with the earliest fossils found in the Carboniferous Period over 300 million years ago. These are very much a “living fossil”.
The Barred Bichir can be found within a small section of Central Africa centered on the upper and middle portions of the Congo River basin. Wild fishes are only infrequently collected here, but, luckily, this species has been bred in captivity and has become a regular offering for aquarists.
It can be told apart from most other species by the series of dark bands that runs along its back. Its biggest selling point might be its relatively small size, with most specimens growing anywhere from 12” to¬15” in length. This is obviously still a BIG fish, but one which is far easier to keep in captivity than some of the bigger species in this genus,.
In the wild, these are shy creatures which hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. Their diet is entirely carnivorous and includes more or less anything which can be sucked into their mouths, including small fishes, insects and worms. Aquarium specimens appreciate a varied diet of meaty foods, such as krill, bloodwormsand even larger sinking pellets.
For tankmates, stick to bigger species that won’t wind up on the menu such as Cichlids, Stingrays, larger Barbs and Catfishes. Whilebichirs may not be the most active of fishes, their bulky body and protein¬-rich diet requires that they be housed in a large volume of water of 75 gallons or more. Plants, live or artificial, will providecover for your bichir, but do note that a large specimen can easily damage delicate stem plants.
Bichirs can live for a really, really long time. Like, decades and decades. Most sources suggest a lifespan of over 30 years, so be sure you’re ready for that sort of commitment before you choose to add one of these fascinating fishies to your tank.