📊 Datasheet
View More- Breeding AggressionSlightly More Aggressive
- Minimum School Size3
- Territorial BehaviourHighly Territorial
Please note: These values are based on the average of various confirmed sources.
🐠 Breeding
Breeding the Gray Bichir in captivity is challenging but not impossible, and success typically depends on replicating the right environmental conditions. Like other species in the Polypteridae family, breeding often requires a mature, well-maintained tank and careful attention to water quality.
- Sexual Dimorphism: Male and female Gray Bichirs exhibit sexual dimorphism, though it can be subtle. Males generally have a larger, more muscular body with broader pectoral fins, while females tend to be rounder, especially when carrying eggs.
- Spawning Behavior: In their natural habitat, Gray Bichirs spawn during specific seasons, often after changes in water temperature and chemistry. To encourage spawning in an aquarium setting, mimic these changes by gradually lowering and then raising the water temperature, simulating the natural conditions of the Nile River or other river basins. A well-planted tank is important, as females will deposit eggs on plant leaves or other surfaces.
- Fry Care: Once the eggs are fertilized and hatch, the fry should be fed small live foods like brine shrimp or micro-worms to ensure proper growth. Providing plenty of cover in the tank is essential for the survival of the fry, as adult bichirs may eat them if given the chance.