Ornate bichir care
Polypterus ornatipinnis · The Congo River basin and Lake Tanganyika, Africa
Ornate bichirs are the most boldly patterned bichirs, black with a net of yellow markings, and the largest of their group, at up to 2 feet.
- Tank size
- 180 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 75 to 82 °F (24 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- Alone or in a pair
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Adult size
- 24 in
- pH
- 6.5 to 7.5
- Hardness (GH)
- 4 to 15 dGH
- Lifespan
- 10 to 20 years
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Care level
- Moderate
In a 210 gallon
72½ × 24½ × 29⅝ in outsideHow to keep ornate bichirs
Ornate bichirs are the most boldly patterned bichirs, black with a net of yellow markings, and the largest of their group, at up to 2 feet. One needs a 180 gallon or larger tank with a tight lid and room to gulp air at the surface; anything small enough to swallow is food.
Diet: Carnivore: sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworm, shrimp, earthworms. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Bottom of the tank.
Ornate bichir tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Silver arowana
36 in · 250+ gal · 75–82 °F
Clown knifefish
39 in · 250+ gal · 75–82 °F
Bala shark
14 in · 125+ gal · 72–82 °F
Kissing gourami
12 in · 75+ gal · 72–82 °F
Uaru
9.8 in · 75+ gal · 79–86 °F
Blood parrot cichlid
8 in · 55+ gal · 76–80 °F
Severum
8 in · 55+ gal · 75–84 °F
Angelfish
6 in · 29+ gal · 76–84 °F
Keep apart
Neon tetra: Adult ornate bichirs eat fish under about 4 in; neon tetras grow to 1.6 in.
Cardinal tetra: Adult ornate bichirs eat fish under about 4 in; cardinal tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Black neon tetra: Adult ornate bichirs eat fish under about 4 in; black neon tetras grow to 1.5 in.
Green neon tetra: Adult ornate bichirs eat fish under about 4 in; green neon tetras grow to 1 in.
Ember tetra: Adult ornate bichirs eat fish under about 4 in; ember tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Glowlight tetra: Adult ornate bichirs eat fish under about 4 in; glowlight tetras grow to 1.5 in.
What an ornate bichir tank needs
A tank of 180 US gallons or more (such as the 210 gallon) with a tight lid (they jump), and the equipment below.
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Fluval FX4
Rated by the maker for up to 250 US gal, which covers a 210 gallon ornate bichir tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Fluval FX6
Rated by the maker for up to 400 US gal, which covers a 210 gallon ornate bichir tank without being built for a far bigger one.
EHEIM thermocontrol 300
Ornate bichirs need 75 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature. Aqueon’s chart gives two 300 W heaters for a 210 gallon tank, and a second heater is worth having here: if one fails, the other keeps the water from going cold. Heating a big tank.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding ornate bichirs.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 75 to 82 °F.
We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common ornate bichir problems
- They escape through small gaps; cover every opening.
- Small fish vanish at night.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Polypterus ornatipinnis. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Ornate bichir Bloopityboop, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Silver arowana Qwertzy2, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Clown knifefish Parkourprincess, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Bala shark H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Kissing gourami 5snake5, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Uaru Brent Tibbats, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Blood parrot cichlid Citron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Severum Trisha M Shears, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Angelfish Citron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Neon tetra Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black neon tetra Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ember tetra Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Glowlight tetra gonzalovalenzuela; cropped by Kyknos, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black ghost knifefish Vassil, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Senegal bichir Zhyla at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Elephantnose fish Jutta234, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- African butterflyfish Toniher, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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