Home / Fishes / Bichirs and ropefish / Cross River Bichir
No federal permit to keepCross River Bichir
Polypterus teugelsi
Fishes › Bichirs and ropefish (Polypteriformes) › Polypteridae (Bichirs and ropefish)
Polypterus teugelsi (Teugelsi bichir) is a species of carnivorous, nocturnal bichir (a group of primitive ray-finned fishes) that lives in the Cross River drainage basin in the country of Cameroon.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 66 in long and 33 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 16.3 in / 41.5 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 77–81°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 7.4–7.5.
- Hardness: 0–1 dGH.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 59 × 24 in (roughly 143 US gallons); space needed is rated “very large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 77–82 °F, pH 7–7.5, 1–5 dGH.
- Difficulty: Difficult (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Assume tank setup as for other bichir species.”
- Tankmates: “Not to be trusted with tankmates it can fit in its mouth but is probably relatively peaceful otherwise as with other bichirs.”
- Breeding: “Has not been bred in aquaria.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Bichirs and ropefish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: These African freshwater bottom predators use rivers and vegetated shallow waters, with ropefish especially associated with dense vegetation (rope, setup). Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Small bichirs such as P. senegalus: published minimum footprint 122 × 38 cm; small/medium groups: 153 × 46 cm (setup).
- Large P. ornatipinnis, endlicherii and bichir: published starting footprint 183 × 61 cm; assess the actual adult size and stocking (setup).
- Adult ropefish: Seriously Fish specifies 150 × 60 × 60 cm, approximately 540 L (rope).
- Use heavy, tight lids, seal cable gaps, and leave an air gap with unobstructed surface access (setup, rope).
- Provide soft sand, wood/cave refuges and subdued lighting (setup).
- Provide ample biological filtration and protect heaters from physical damage (setup).
Climate & lighting
| Water | 77–82.4°F |
Diet
- Earthworms (rope).
- Prawns and mussel meat (rope).
- Bloodworms for appropriately sized specimens (rope).
Social life
- Avoid swallowable companions; ropefish can live in groups but lose food to vigorous feeders (rope).
Health watch
- Ammonia toxicity from inadequate biofiltration (fish_health).
- Parasitic skin and gill infections (fish_health).
- Nutritional deficiencies from unsuitable diets (fish_health).
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
P. teugelsi was described in 2004 by Ralf Britz.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Polypterus teugelsi” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Stays near the bottom. Most abundant in densely shaded rainforest streams. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 77–81 °F (25–27 °C), pH 7.4–7.5, hardness 1 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 77–81 °F.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Polypterus teugelsi (Teugelsi bichir) is a species of carnivorous, nocturnal bichir (a group of primitive ray-finned fishes) that lives in the Cross River drainage basin in the country of Cameroon. P. teugelsi was described in 2004 by Ralf Britz. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | Wild-caught P. teugelsi can reach lengths of 24-26 inches (60-66 cm), but captive-bred specimens rarely exceed 16 inches (40 cm). It has a network of black markings on the dorsal surface and the medial and pelvic fins, completely black pectoral fins, and an orange ventral surface. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Facultative air-breathing in the genus; Most abundant in densely shaded rainforest streams. — FishBase |
| History and naming | Named in honor of Guy Teugels (1954–2003), curator of fishes at the Musée Royale de l'Afrique Centrale. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 59 × 24 in (about 143 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Sean Evans: Tank Setup for Bichirs and Ropefish Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Erpetoichthys calabaricus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of Aquarium Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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