[dprUsh83]

So, my bichir has always been a light grey and a couple of days ago (overnight) the color became a very dark, charcoal grey. I actually like the color change as it looks very good, but wanted to make sure everything was healthy. Behavior remains the same, eating well, et cetera. Water parameters are fine, no issues there. Just changed colors completely. Still white on the underside, though.

 

[Guest]

dprush83 what species of polypertus is your bichir? As there is not alot of information on them it might help to narrow down the search


Polypterus ansorgii :common name,Guinean bichir

Polypterus (bichir) bichir: common name, Nile bichir

Polypterus (bichir) katangae

Polypterus (bichir) lapradei

Polypterus delhezi: common name Armoured bichir, banded bichir

Polypterus endlicheri congicus: common name, Congo bichir

Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri: common name, Saddled bichir, Red bichir

Polypterus mokelembembe

Polypterus ornatipinnis: common name, Ornate bichir

Polypterus palmas buettikoferi: common name, Buettikofer's bichir

Polypterus palmas palmas: common name, Marbled bichir, Shortfin bichir, dinosaur eel

Polypterus palmas polli: common name,Poll's bichir

Polypterus retropinnis

Polypterus senegalus meridionalis

Polypterus senegalus senegalus: common name, Senegal bichir, Grey/Gray bichir, Dinosaur eel

Polypterus teugelsi

Polypterus weeksii: common name, Weeks' bichir, Fat-headed bichir, Mottled bichir

All sounds fine in your tank and I am not surprised to hear of the color change as some do become darker or lose their bands as they mature.
How long have you had your bichir?

 

[dprUsh83]

I don't know its scientific name, it is a "dinosaur bichir" as sold by Petsmart. I've had her for probably going on 4 months. She's still small, I'd say probably 4-5 inches and starting to grow in circumference.

 

[Guest]

I don't know its scientific name, it is a "dinosaur bichir" as sold by Petsmart. I've had her for probably going on 4 months. She's still small, I'd say probably 4-5 inches and starting to grow in circumference.

Okay lets try and figure out exactly what type she is. chances are she is one of the top three on the list below which one describes her most?

Most common ones sold in lfs are:

Delhezi:The upper surface is greyish, with hints of green or yellowish colouration. The ventral surface is a uniform lighter colour. There are 7-8 dark vertical bands which vary in thickness between individuals. 10-13 dorsal finlets. The mouth is relatively small for the fish's size.


Senegalus: Uniform brownish-grey to olive colour on dorsal surface, ventral surface whitish. No banding on adults, very young juveniles show three horizontal bands. Upper jaw slightly longer than lower jaw. 8-11 dorsal finlets.

Ornate:The striking black and yellow patterning of this species extends into the fins, making for a very attractively patterned bichir. The head has a finely reticulated pattern. 9-11 dorsal spines present


Endlicheri:Colour can be yellowish-brown to grey. There are several dark vertical bands. Black spots are often present on the head region. The lower jaw is more prominent, extending beyond the upper jaw. Dorsal spines extend forward to the rear of the pectoral fins.


Weeksii :This species usually has a very clear distinction between the dark greyish-green dorsal surface and the whitish ventral surface. Several dark bands are present which may fork towards the bottom. The head is relatively large, giving rise to one of the common names of 'fat-headed' bichir. This species retains external gills much longer than most other Polypterus species. There are 9-11 dorsal finlets.


Lapradei: Grey to greenish-grey colouration, with a paler ventral surface. Horizontal bands evident on the upper surface from the head to the dorsal finlets, and extending about halfway along the side of the body from behind the gills. The flanks have irregular vertical bands. Prominent lower jaw longer than upper jaw. 13-17 dorsal spines.

 

[dprUsh83]

Hmmm, I'm still not sure. The entire body is grey, with no bands. The jaw looks to match up pretty evenly.


:?:

 

[Daz]

How about a pic? instead of a essay..

 

[Guest]

How about a pic? instead of a essay..

Well the essay describes the fish before and after maturity where as most pics do not as he stated his bichir is young....but here ya go.

Delhezi

Ornate

weeksi

senegal

The above are most commonly sold.

 

[dprUsh83]

Senegal, definitely by that picture. Well, that's what she looked like before the color change anyways. :lol:

 

[Daz]

Birchirs are generally set in there colouration. Nothing has changed ? keep an eye on him because if the colour change is that drastic there maybe a problem. Has it been freaked out by the O ?

 

[Guest]

okay good glad we got that figured out dan I have not found anything in my research about color change except for as they mature, yours being just a young one that might be the case.

By your first post everything seems fine I would just keep a close eye on her. I will see if i can find anyting else to help. Maybe someone else has a suggestion as well. I really wouldn"t worry to much tho unless she stops eating or shows any signs of stress..

I have an Ornate and she has darkend considerably since I purchased her almost a year ago.

 

[dprUsh83]

Okay cool thanks for the update. Nobody shows the bichir any aggression, so I don't think it's a fear issue. And like I said nothing has changed behaviorally or anything like that. I'll continue keeping an eye on her, thanks all!

 

[Kingkat]

Like Laurie said, keep an out on loss of appetite or other signs of stress.

 

[tankyou]

color change

I have a Senegal as well that went the other direction --- from dark to light --- after I brought the fish home from the store. Could temperature, salinity or tank substrate affect the coloration? I noted that the tank it came from was a dark tank and my tank is light.



Tankyou

 

[Gump]

substrait color effects color, i took all my bichirs from a bare bottom to black sand and had a color change in all but 1.

the day i moved the del from bare to sand:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b324/gump1529/DCP_2818.jpg


about 2 months later in the sand:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b324/gump1529/IMG_0359.jpg