Source: Wikimedia Commons
Polli Bichir
IntermediatePolypterus polli
A small grey to dark brown bichir from the middle and lower Congo. FishBase records a maximum of 32cm SL. Described by Gosse in 1988, it was long treated as a subspecies of P. palmas.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Temperature
22〜28℃
Lifespan
8-12 years
Size
Up to 32cm SL
Diet
Meaty live and frozen foods such as prawns, earthworms, mussel and lancefish
About
Polypterus polli is a small polypterid from the middle and lower Congo basin. FishBase records a maximum of 32.1cm SL, 5-7 dorsal finlets and an upper jaw slightly longer than the lower. The body is cylindrical and grey to dark brown with faint mottling. Described by Gosse in 1988, it was long treated as the subspecies P. palmas polli, so museum specimens and older literature still carry the subspecific name. It stays small for the genus and does not need a huge tank, but FishBase publishes no temperature or pH figures for it and Seriously Fish has no profile, so those numbers are omitted here. Nocturnal and guided by smell, it eats any fish that fits in its mouth, and because the swim bladder works as a lung it must be able to reach the surface. The IUCN rates it Least Concern and it is not listed by CITES.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Polli Bichir
The Polli Bichir lives 8-12 years.
Size of the Polli Bichir
The Polli Bichir grows to Up to 32cm SL.
Basic Info
Origin
Africa (lower and middle Congo basin in Cameroon, Republic of Congo and DR Congo)
Lifespan
8-12 years
Size
Up to 32cm SL
Temperature
22〜28℃
Care Specifications
Semi-aggressiveSolitary
Sources: FishBase
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Polypterus polli Gosse, 1988
Synonyms: Polypterus palmas polli
Authority databases: FishBase
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listedIUCN LC · Least Concern
Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / IUCN Red List
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Polli Bichir Listings
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