Marbled bichir
Polypterus palmas
- Tank length
- 120 cmabout 4 ft (47 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 25–28 °C77–82 °F
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Adult size
- 25 cm10 in
- Lifespan
- 15–25 yrs
One of the smaller bichirs but still eats small fish; needs a lid and hiding places on a sandy floor.One of the smaller bichirs but still eats small fish; needs a lid and hiding places on a sandy floor.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African butterfly cichlid
Marbled bichir may eat African butterfly cichlidMarbled bichir may eat African butterfly cichlid
- African clawed frog
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Agassiz's cory
Marbled bichir may eat Agassiz's coryMarbled bichir may eat Agassiz's cory
Amano shrimpMarbled bichir may eat Amano shrimpMarbled bichir may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Marbled bichir may eat American flagfishMarbled bichir may eat American flagfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Marbled bichir may eat Arfak rainbowfishMarbled bichir may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailMarbled bichir may eat Assassin snailMarbled bichir may eat Assassin snail
- Bandit cory
Marbled bichir may eat Bandit coryMarbled bichir may eat Bandit cory
- Batanta rainbowfish
Marbled bichir may eat Batanta rainbowfishMarbled bichir may eat Batanta rainbowfish
- Black kuhli loach
Marbled bichir may eat Black kuhli loachMarbled bichir may eat Black kuhli loach
Black neon tetraMarbled bichir may eat Black neon tetraMarbled bichir may eat Black neon tetra
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 | Coastal rivers of West Africa, Sierra Leone to Ivory Coast | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | 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 | 120 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |