Price on InquiryLapredai Senegal
🐟 LAPREDAI SENEGAL (Senegal Bichir / Dinosaur Eel) 🌎 Origin: Africa (River basins, swamps, and floodplains across West and Central Africa) 📏 Adult Size: 12 to 14 inches 🏠 Tank Size: 3ft to 4ft tanks are required 🌡️ Temperature: 24°C – 28°C (76°F – 82°F) 💧 pH: 6.5 – 7.5 (Stable parameters are much more critical than chasing exact numbers) ⚡ Temperament: Peaceful toward tank mates too large to eat, but an opportunistic, predatory carnivore by nature ⏳ Lifespan: 10 to 15+ years (can exceed 20 years with exceptional care) 🍤 Feeding: Strict carnivore. Provide sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworms, silversides, raw prawns/shrimp, earthworms, and occasional pieces of white fish (like tilapia). 🐠 Tank Mates: Compatible Fish: African Butterflyfish, Severum Cichlid, Blue Acara, Salvini Cichlid, Silver Dollar, Striped Raphael Catfish, Synodontis Catfish, and other similarly sized Bichir species (Polypterus delhezi or Polypterus palmas). Rule of Thumb: If it fits in their mouth, it will be eaten. Avoid small tetras, rasboras, livebearers, or dwarf shrimp. Tank Setup & Care The Escape Artist: A tightly fitting, heavy lid with no gaps is non-negotiable. Bichirs possess a primitive lung and will readily launch themselves out of any opening or cord cutout to breathe or explore. Leave a small 2 to 3-inch gap between the water line and the lid so they can easily gulp air. Substrate: Use fine, soft aquarium sand or bare bottom. Avoid sharp or jagged gravel, as it can scrape their delicate bellies and lead to bacterial infections while they forage. Hardscape & Lighting: Provide plenty of caves, driftwood, and low-light resilient plants (like Anubias or Java Fern) to make them feel secure. They are primarily nocturnal and prefer dimmer lighting. 💙 AAF Tips The Scent-Driven Hunter: Because Senegal Bichirs have poor eyesight, they hunt primarily using their keen sense of smell. During feeding time, make sure aggressive or fast-swimming tank mates aren't robbing them of food. Using sinking pellets or target-feeding them with tongs after the tank lights go out ensures they get their fair share.