Question about owning a Polypterus species

I have HOBs with sand, works just fine. When setting it up make sure to rinse the sand very well so none of the free floating particles get into the impeller. A sand with a large enough grain size shouldn't be moved around by the flow so no problems there.

:iagree:

Also cutting an AC sponge so you can slide it over the intake will help trap any smaller particles.

The only "care" that I have with bichirs is that there is a polypterus species in the LFS that I work at...one thing I've noticed is that they are not fast hunters so definitely don't put them with something that could possibly out compete them for food. Other than that I have nothing...People at MFK would probably have more experience so try over there.

Its not hard. I have 2 in the same tank with 2 Ctenopoma Acutirostre, 2 Clown Loaches,3 Western Australian Rainbows and a Rubberlip Pleco.

They eat pretty much anything. I feed the tank krill,bloodworms,earthworms,shrimp pellets,cichlid pellets,tubifex worms,flakes and alage wafers. Once in a while feeders but not as much since I gave away my convicts.I used their fry.

Just make sure any fish you add to the tank is larger then 3 inches and are full bodied to prevent them from being eaten.

If you do a search of bichir or Polypterus senegalus in the forum you'll find some good info.

use pool filter sand. it's still reasonably fine, but wont get stirred up very easily.

I don't have senegals, but i have endlicheri. I keep one of the tanks bare bottom, the other has soil substrate (sms). I feed massivore (by hikari) and Hikari sinking cichlid gold. They are really really cool critters with tons of personality. Although they do not dart around the tank, they can move very quickly. They will eat ANY fish that is the size of their head or smaller, so take that into consideration. They are also notorious for being escape artists, so make sure your tank is tightly lidded.