{"product_id":"delhezi-bichir-polypterus-delhezi","title":"Delhezi Bichir | Polypterus delhezi","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Delhezi Bichir, also known as the Barred or Armoured Bichir, is a hardy, prehistoric-looking predator with a bold pattern of dark blotches over an olive-brown body. Reaching around 35cm, it's a manageable and popular choice among the bichirs for hobbyists wanting an oddball, air-breathing predator without the enormous adult size of the giant Polypterus species.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to the Democratic Republic of Congo, found in lakes, streams, and seasonally flooded, densely vegetated areas of the Congo River basin. It lives in slow-moving, often oxygen-poor water, relying on its lung-like swim bladder to gulp air at the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn elongated, snake-like body covered in thick, armour-like ganoid scales, with a row of separate spiny dorsal finlets and paired, leg-like pectoral fins used to shuffle along the substrate. Juveniles and adults display bold, irregular dark bars and blotches over an olive to yellowish base colour, giving rise to its \"barred\" and \"armoured\" common names.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRelatively peaceful and unbothered by similarly sized tankmates, but predatory towards anything small enough to swallow. Mostly nocturnal and secretive, spending daylight hours tucked into hides before becoming more active at night. Compatible with other bichirs and robust, size-appropriate fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA carnivore that readily takes meaty foods such as prawn, mussel, bloodworm, and earthworms. Many individuals can be trained onto sinking carnivore pellets over time, though live and frozen foods remain the preferred diet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNeeds a tank with generous floor space, a soft sand substrate to protect its barbels, and plenty of driftwood, rockwork, or cave-like hides. A tight-fitting lid is essential, as this species is a capable escape artist. As an air-breather it needs regular access to the surface, and moderate to low lighting suits its nocturnal habits.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn egg scatterer that spawns during the rainy season in the wild, but breeding in home aquaria is rarely documented. Successful attempts require soft, slightly acidic water and dense vegetation or spawning mops; eggs hatch in 3-4 days and fry need brine shrimp nauplii or microworms.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePolypterus delhezi\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDelhezi Bichir (Barred\/Armoured Bichir)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDemocratic Republic of Congo, Congo River Basin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e35cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10-15 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-Aggressive (predatory towards small fish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200L (120x45x37.5cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e400L+ for an adult\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24-30°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0-8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5-25 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePredator\/oddball freshwater tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate (may disturb loosely planted species; hardy plants tolerated)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther bichirs, larger Synodontis catfish, robust characins, and similarly sized peaceful-to-semi-aggressive fish that are too large to be eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmall fish, shrimp, and other tankmates small enough to be swallowed, as well as aggressive fin-nippers that may target its barbels and finlets.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55411435569443,"sku":"AA5401-S","price":415.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55411435602211,"sku":"AA5401-M","price":475.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55411435634979,"sku":"AA5401-L","price":545.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-35cm)","offer_id":55411435667747,"sku":"AA5401-XL","price":625.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/delhezi-bichir-polypterus-delhezi","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}