Albino Polypterus (Bichir)
Albino Polypterus (Bichir)
Bichirs are among the most primitive living ray-finned fish, carrying a pair of actual lungs rather than the swim-bladder-derived breathing organs seen in gar and other air-breathers — a trait that puts them functionally, though not directly, close to the evolutionary neighborhood that eventually produced land vertebrates. This albino form can survive out of water for real stretches of time and will even wriggle short distances across wet ground if it needs to.
Care level: Easy · Temperament: Peaceful with larger tankmates · Max size: ~14" · Min tank: 55 gal · Diet: Carnivore, live/frozen/sinking meaty foods
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Polypterus senegalus
- Common name
- Albino Polypterus
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Care level
- Easy
- Temperament
- Peaceful with larger tankmates
- Max size
- ~14"
- Minimum tank
- 55 gal
- Diet
- Carnivore, live/frozen/sinking meaty foods
When it ships
Most non-quarantined stock goes out the week you order. If we do not already have the animal in-house we source it first — allow up to two weeks for it to reach us. Live animals leave Monday and Tuesday, and Early AM Overnight is the only service that carries a live arrival guarantee.
The live guarantee
Shipped Early AM Overnight: a 1-hour DOA window from confirmed delivery, and nothing beyond it. Next Day Air and 2-Day carry no live arrival guarantee, and neither does USPS Priority. Local pickup or local delivery: 24 hours, if you bring a water sample from your aquarium and we test it before the animal goes home. Maintenance clients: 60 days when we service the aquarium at least twice a month, 28 days on a monthly plan.
Expert guidance
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