Albino Bichir Care Guide

The Albino Bichir is a striking pale form of the Senegal Bichir, with a creamy white to yellowish body, pinkish eyes and a row of small, separate dorsal finlets along its back. Its elongated, eel-like shape and paired pectoral fins give it a distinctly prehistoric appearance, although it is a true ray-finned fish rather than an eel.This species is primarily nocturnal and spends much of its time near the bottom, where it moves using its fins and flexible body. It is generally deliberate and calm, but it is an opportunistic predator that will eat any suitably small fish it can capture.Wild Polypterus senegalus occurs across freshwater habitats in tropical West and Central Africa, including slow-moving rivers, floodplains, swamps and shallow marginal waters. It is adapted to environments that may become poorly oxygenated and can rise to the surface to gulp atmospheric air.Bichirs belong to the ancient family Polypteridae, whose members retain several unusual features, including primitive lung-like organs, sturdy scales and multiple dorsal finlets. The albino form is selectively bred in aquaria and is valued for its unusual coloration and fascinating combination of ancient anatomy and hardy predatory behaviour.