Although the Senegal bichir looks rather like an eel, it is a species of primitive freshwater fish. Senegal bichirs can be found throughout the tropical regions of Africa, where they live in sheltered lagoons, swamps, and marshes, thriving among the dense vegetation and muddy substrate. During the daytime, the bichir hides in murky nooks and crannies, coming out at night to search for the insects, larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, small frogs, and fish on which it feeds. The Senegal bichir can breathe air at the water’s surface via a specialized swim bladder. These unique fish can also use their powerful pectoral fins as “legs” and are capable of crawling over short distances on land. For that reason, you must have a tightly-fitting lid on your tank to prevent your bichir from escaping.