Cuvier Bichir

General information

An interesting fact about this species it is that it has very poor vision and so it relies on its heightened sense of smell to locate food. They are also surface breathers so they should not be kept in tanks that are too deep.

This species is a carnivore and a predator. This fish prefers meaty organisms like prawns. In an aquarium, it can be fed with live or frozen worms.

Male and female have different anal fins, the male has a thicker anal fin than the female.

The species breeds during the rainy season, and some people believe that changes in the water conditions may induce spawning.

Courtship involves chasing and nudging of the female by the male, then, the male receives the eggs from the female, he fertilizes them and then scatters them among the vegetation

It is a difficult species to breed in an aquarium and in case they do breed in the aquarium the adults must be separated from the fry since they can predate on them.

They can be affected by the same diseases as other fish, but this genus seems to be prone to suffering from parasites.

It is the most widespread species inside this family, and it lives in 26 countries in Africa. It prefers shallow and slow-moving waters of swamps, marshes, and freshwater lagoons.

Depth isn't as crucial as floor space when it comes to this species. It prefers a soft substrate with pieces of driftwood and smooth rocks since this species appreciates hiding places plants are a good idea even though they aren't necessary for its survival and optimal health. The aquarium should also include a cover so it can't escape.

It is considered a peaceful species, but if it has tankmates that can fit in its mouth then it would most likely predate on them, as such, it is not recommended to have tankmates smaller than them.

Many of the fishes from these species that are sold in stores are caught in the wild so they may be carrying infections or parasites, so it would be a good idea to keep an eye on the fish for a while after the purchase.