Gray bichir, Senegal bichir, or dinosaur bichir (Polypterus senegalus) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Gray bichir, Grey bichir, Cuvier's bichir, Dinosaur eel, Dragon fish
Family
Polypteridae (bichirs)
Origin
Widespread in Africa: Senegal, Gambia, Niger, Volta and Chad basins, the Nile and lakes Turkana and Albert, in shallow, slow swamps, marshes and lagoons.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
50 cm
Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6.2–7.8
Hardness
Medium to hard, 5–20 dGH
Minimum tank
540 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Lifespan
30+ years years

Care

Bichirs are an ancient group with armour-like scales, and this is the species most often sold. It looks small and cute as a juvenile, but it grows large (around 50 cm per Seriously Fish) and can live for decades – over 30 years has been recorded in captivity. Plan for a tank with a base of at least 150 × 60 cm (around 540 litres) for an adult. It is an excellent escape artist and can wriggle across a floor while staying alive for some time out of water, so a tight-fitting lid with no gaps is essential. It also has a pair of simple lungs and must be able to reach the surface to gulp air; leave space between the water and the lid. Use a soft sand substrate, caves, driftwood and pipes for hiding, and keep the light fairly subdued. It is mainly active at dusk and at night and spends a lot of time on the bottom. Aim for about 24–28 °C, pH 6.2–7.8 and 5–20 dGH, with good filtration as it is a messy feeder. Identification: a long, grey-to-beige fish with a row of small finlets along the back. Young fish have feathery external gills that are lost with age. Albino fish are sold too. Seriously Fish lists the common form as P. senegalus senegalus, with a southern subspecies P. s. meridionalis from the Congo basin that grows larger. The trade names 'dinosaur eel' and 'dragon fish' are misleading; it is neither an eel nor a reptile. Many fish sold are wild-caught and may carry parasites or infections, so quarantine new stock. FishBase lists it as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/polypterus-senegalus-senegalus/); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Polypterus-senegalus.html); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graybichir). Checked October 2026.

Diet

A predator that hunts at night on small fish, insects and crustaceans. Feed meaty foods such as prawn and white fish, plus frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp; many will also take good cichlid pellets or sinking pellets.

Breeding

Very difficult and rarely achieved in aquaria. It is an egg-scatterer and is thought to need soft, slightly acidic water to spawn. Males have a thicker, larger anal fin than females, which they use during spawning. Eggs hatch in about 3–4 days.

Compatibility and tank mates

Will eat any tankmate that fits in its mouth, but is fairly peaceful otherwise. Good companions are fish too large to swallow and robust enough to share the bottom, such as other Polypterus, Synodontis catfish, knifefish and medium to large characins. Avoid small tetras, shrimps and very aggressive fish that might damage it.

Last updated 5 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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