{"product_id":"leopard-bichir","title":"Leopard Bichir","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eLeopard Bichir: Bichirs, belong to the Polypteridae family and are living fossils. They are a sister family of ray-finned fish with similar traits. These include a pair of functional lungs and the Lorenzini Ampullae (organs that can sense electricity, also known as electroreceptors).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eThey are members of the Polypterus genus, which means many wings,' as a result of their appearance. Bichir is a genus of roughly 12 species, all of which are found in tropical Africa's freshwater systems.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eOne such fantastic specie is the Leopard Birchirs - Big it looks intimidating and powerful but when they are small they are arguably the most defenseless fish as they can't fight. They have flappy little fins, and no teeth for fighting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eThese fish love tanks that are long and shallow. They may occasionally climb to the water's surface to take a breath of air. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eYou can lower the amount of ornamentation in the tank to diminish territorial behavior, but Bichirs prefer to hide in rock caves or driftwood, especially during the day. Because they are nocturnal, they should be housed in tanks with dim lighting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eI. You\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003e would love the fish because…\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eThe general appearance of bichirs is very ancient and prehistoric. They look like a cross between a snake and an eel and can grow to be quite long.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eIt has a black body covered with yellow spots resembling that of a leopard. On the top of their backs, they have a series of spiny dorsal fins. These dorsal finlets continue right into their tail which fans out to create a wide surface area. This is where bichir generates most of its momentum. Bichir has two large pectoral fins which they rely on for mobility when swimming.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eAt the front of their heads, you’ll see they have two small tentacle-like extensions of their nose that make it easy for them to smell and navigate in low-visibility water.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eII. Is this fish species peaceful or hostile?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eBichirs are predatory fish with a moderate level of aggression. When housed with smaller fish, they will nip at their fins or even consume them, which is a problem.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eIII. Species compatibility\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eKnifefish, large barbs like Tinfoil Barbs, larger and non-aggressive African cichlids, and medium catfish are all acceptable tankmates with caution.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eIV. How to feed this species?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eA Leopard Bichirs is a predatory fish that should be fed live food such as bloodworm, frozen shrimp and calamari, tiny fish, cow heart and meat, and earthworm. The fish may consume artificial food, but this is not their natural diet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"\u003eThe fish can eat slowly because it hunts at night when its prey is not active in the wild. So, if you've noticed that certain tank residents vanish at night, this could be the cause.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Splashy Fin Aquarium Bengaluru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45822693507233,"sku":"SFFDBXC176-Leopard Bichir","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0714\/4646\/2625\/files\/354_leopard-bichir1.jpg?v=1773645584","url":"https:\/\/fish.splashyfin.com\/products\/leopard-bichir","provider":"Splashy Fin Aquarium Bengaluru","version":"1.0","type":"link"}