Guinean bichir
Polypterus ansorgii
- Tank length
- 240 cmabout 8 ft (94 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C73–82 °F
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 23.7 cm9.3 in
- Lifespan
- 15–25 yrs
A large, powerful bichir that eats any fish it can swallow; needs a long tank with a tight lid as it can climb out.A large, powerful bichir that eats any fish it can swallow; needs a long tank with a tight lid as it can climb out.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African butterfly cichlid
Guinean bichir may eat African butterfly cichlidGuinean bichir may eat African butterfly cichlid
- Agassiz's cory
Guinean bichir may eat Agassiz's coryGuinean bichir may eat Agassiz's cory
Amano shrimpGuinean bichir may eat Amano shrimpGuinean bichir may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Guinean bichir may eat American flagfishGuinean bichir may eat American flagfish
Assassin snailGuinean bichir may eat Assassin snailGuinean bichir may eat Assassin snail
- Bandit cory
Guinean bichir may eat Bandit coryGuinean bichir may eat Bandit cory
- Batanta rainbowfish
Guinean bichir may eat Batanta rainbowfishGuinean bichir may eat Batanta rainbowfish
- Black kuhli loach
Guinean bichir may eat Black kuhli loachGuinean bichir may eat Black kuhli loach
Black neon tetraGuinean bichir may eat Black neon tetraGuinean bichir may eat Black neon tetra
- Black phantom tetra
Guinean bichir may eat Black phantom tetraGuinean bichir may eat Black phantom tetra
- Black ruby barb
Guinean bichir may eat Black ruby barbGuinean bichir may eat Black ruby barb
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 23–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 4–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Coastal rivers of Guinea and Guinea Bissau | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | sedentary | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 15–25 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 36 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 240 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |