Senegal Bicher Leucistic - Polypterus senegalus

Leucistic Senegal Bichir (Polypterus senegalus)

The Leucistic Senegal Bichir is a pale, captive-bred colour form of the classic Senegal Bichir, prized for its creamy white to soft pink body, prehistoric appearance and calm, deliberate behaviour. As one of the more manageable bichirs in the hobby, it is often chosen by aquarists wanting an oddball predator without moving straight into true monster-fish territory. Despite its peaceful manner, it is still a predatory species with a large mouth, so it needs sensible tankmate selection, a secure aquarium and plenty of floor space.

Common Name:
Leucistic Senegal Bichir

Scientific Name (Latin):
Polypterus senegalus

Maximum Size:
Up to 30–35 cm in length

Water Type:
Freshwater

Origin / Natural Habitat:
This variety is captive-bred, but the species naturally occurs across parts of West and Central Africa, where it inhabits slow-moving rivers, floodplains, marshes and shallow, heavily vegetated waters.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–28°C
pH Range: 6.5–7.8
Hardness: soft to moderately hard water

Temperament:
Generally peaceful but predatory. It is not usually aggressive towards fish it cannot swallow, but anything small enough to fit in its mouth is eventually at risk.

Diet:
Carnivorous. Offer a varied diet of sinking carnivore pellets, frozen foods and meaty items such as prawn, mussel, earthworms, bloodworm and similar protein-rich foods.

Minimum Tank Size:
A practical long-term recommendation is at least 240 litres, with a strong emphasis on floor space rather than height.

Behaviour & Activity:
This is a largely bottom-dwelling, crepuscular to nocturnal fish that spends much of the day resting under cover before becoming more active later on. It will regularly rise to the surface for air, as bichirs are air-breathing fish.

Aquarium Category:
Semi-Aggressive / Specialist
Best kept with peaceful but robust tankmates that are far too large to be swallowed, such as larger gouramis, peaceful cichlids, sizeable rainbowfish, ropefish, larger catfish and other suitable oddballs. Avoid small community fish, shrimp, tiny bottom-dwellers and fin-nipping species. It is not a true community fish, but it is also not a full tank buster when given the right setup and correctly sized companions.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
A tight-fitting lid is essential, as bichirs are well known for escaping through surprisingly small gaps. Provide sand or a smooth substrate, shaded areas, wood or caves for cover, and always leave access to the surface so the fish can breathe atmospheric air. Strong filtration and stable water quality are important, but avoid excessive current.

Suitable for:
Intermediate fishkeepers

Availability:
Regular in trade. The standard Senegal Bichir is one of the most commonly available bichir species, and leucistic forms are also widely seen.

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.