CheckMyFishTankOrnate Bichir care
Polypterus ornatipinnis · Freshwater · Intermediate level care
A big, prehistoric looking bichir for large tanks.
Feeding
Once a day. A few pellets or a couple of frozen items per fish that are gone in a few minutes. Sinking carnivore pellets, frozen foods, earthworms.
Eats fish small enough to fit in its mouth.
Jumps. Keep a tight lid on the tank.
Good tank mates
Fish that pass every check with Ornate Bichir in a 360 gallon tank: same water, overlapping temperature, nobody gets eaten and no bullies.
Do not mix with
- Neon Tetra: Ornate Bichir grows big enough to eat Neon Tetra.
- Cardinal Tetra: Ornate Bichir grows big enough to eat Cardinal Tetra.
- Green Neon Tetra: Ornate Bichir grows big enough to eat Green Neon Tetra.
- Black Neon Tetra: Ornate Bichir grows big enough to eat Black Neon Tetra.
- Ember Tetra: Ornate Bichir grows big enough to eat Ember Tetra.
- Lemon Tetra: Ornate Bichir grows big enough to eat Lemon Tetra.
- Glowlight Tetra: Ornate Bichir grows big enough to eat Glowlight Tetra.
- Black Skirt Tetra: Ornate Bichir grows big enough to eat Black Skirt Tetra.
Questions
What size tank does a Ornate Bichir need?
At least 180 gallons. Adults grow to about 24 inches, so plan for the adult size, not the size at the store.
What temperature does a Ornate Bichir like?
75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of about 6.5 to 7.5. A steady temperature matters more than hitting one exact number.
How many Ornate Bichir should I keep together?
One is fine, and they can also live in small groups if the tank is big enough.
What do Ornate Bichir eat?
Sinking carnivore pellets, frozen foods, earthworms. Feed once a day: a few pellets or a couple of frozen items per fish that are gone in a few minutes.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-11-10. When sources disagree we use the safer number.