Bichir Ansorgii

Polypterus ansorgii is a little-known and infrequently traded polypterid found in upper Nile tributaries and some West African river systems. Its body is slender and elongated even by bichir standards, displaying brownish-olive colouration with faint irregular banding that provides effective cryptic camouflage on substrate. Adults can reach 55cm. Captive husbandry follows standard polypterid protocols: warm, soft to moderately hard water, carnivore diet, surface access, and a secure lid. Its rarity in the hobby is primarily a function of limited commercial demand rather than husbandry difficulty, and experienced keepers who have maintained it report that it is no more demanding than P. senegalus. It is sometimes confused with other similar-looking polypterids in the trade.

Water: 26–30°C, pH 6.5–7.5, soft to moderately hard; robust filtration, stable parameters. Tank: Minimum 300L, fine substrate, good shelter options, very secure heavy lid essential. Feeding: Carnivore; earthworms, frozen prawn, mussel, bloodworm; sinking pellets accepted after settling in. Breeding: No specific captive breeding data; follow P. senegalus protocol as baseline. Compatibility: Peaceful with large fish it cannot swallow; predatory toward small species.