Ornate bichir
Polypterus ornatipinnis
- Tank length
- 200 cmabout 7 ft (79 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 25–28 °C77–82 °F
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Adult size
- 40 cm16 in
- Lifespan
- 15–25 yrs
A striking but large and secretive predator; give caves, a tight lid and a long tank with big tankmates.A striking but large and secretive predator; give caves, a tight lid and a long tank with big tankmates.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African butterfly cichlid
Ornate bichir may eat African butterfly cichlidOrnate bichir may eat African butterfly cichlid
- African clawed frog
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Agassiz's cory
Ornate bichir may eat Agassiz's coryOrnate bichir may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
Ornate bichir may eat Ajamaru rainbowfishOrnate bichir may eat Ajamaru rainbowfish
Amano shrimpOrnate bichir may eat Amano shrimpOrnate bichir may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Ornate bichir may eat American flagfishOrnate bichir may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
Ornate bichir may eat Angfa rainbowfishOrnate bichir may eat Angfa rainbowfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Ornate bichir may eat Arfak rainbowfishOrnate bichir may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailOrnate bichir may eat Assassin snailOrnate bichir may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
Ornate bichir may eat Banded gouramiOrnate bichir may eat Banded gourami
- Bandit cory
Ornate bichir may eat Bandit coryOrnate bichir may eat Bandit cory
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 25–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–20 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Congo basin and Lake Tanganyika | 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 | 200 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |