The Beginning
My odyssey with P.endlicheri began in December, 1986, when I received seven specimens. They had taken a roundabout route starting with the African collector, who sold them to a German wholesaler, who sold them to a Japanese importer/exporter, who finally sold them to me. The fish were young, perhaps no more than a year old, and were about 8 inches (20cm) long.
From that point on there was not much to report for a long time. The fish were kept in a tank measuring 60 x 24 x 24 inches (150 x 60 x 60 cm), which held about 150 gallons (570 liters). The temperature ranged from 79-84°F (26-29°C), the pH was 4.8 to 6.0, and the general hardness was 5-7 degrees. I changed about half the water once a month. I fed the fish both live and freeze-dried bloodworms, freeze-dried krill, and small live fishes, usually goldfish. Although all species of Polypterus like live fishes in their diet, I have found them to be very adaptable, and most will take dried foods and flakes. This was pretty much routine from December, 1986, to April, 1992, except that as the fish approached full size they were moved to a tank measuring 72 x 24 x 24 inches (180 x 60 x 60 cm), but only partially filled (about 130 gallons).
