What’s this strange-looking fish? Why, it’s Slinky! A Senegal bichir (Polypterus senegalus)! On the 6th October 2019, we’ve got Slinky sharing the aquarium spotlight with a cichlid named Angry Hoverboard. Yes, Angry Hoverboard. Weird name, but what can you do?

Bichirs are wonderful, unusual-looking fish with long bodies and a whole row of separate little fins along their backs. Instead of one continuous dorsal fin, Slinky has a collection of individual finlets running down the back, almost like a row of miniature sails! It’s certainly an interesting arrangement, and part of what makes these fish so fascinating.

And here’s the really interesting part. Senegal bichirs have lungs as well as gills, so they can breathe air at the surface. Actual lungs! You don’t expect to find that on the average aquarium fish. Every time you think you’ve seen everything an aquarium can throw at you, along comes a fish that breathes air!

Come the 21st October 2019 and we’re back with Slinky! There were actually a few alternative names floating around, including Wiggles, Lizardfish and Night Dragon! I think Night Dragon might have been the original idea, but I eventually settled on Slinky. Much better, I reckon! Slinky was even dubbed “The king of the tank.” Quite the title!

And on the 23rd October 2019, another helping of Slinky! Between those little dorsal finlets, the elongated body and the whole business of breathing air, there’s certainly plenty to find fascinating about Senegal bichirs. They’re not exactly your everyday aquarium fish, and that’s part of the appeal! There’s also a Slinky the Fish article from November 2019 for more adventures.