Can bettas live with bichirs?
Verdict
No
No. Bettas and bichirs should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
- Watch outBichirs are much bigger and pushier than bettas, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.
- Watch outBichirs grow to 12 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for bettas.
What works
- Both are fine at 76–82°F.
- pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: bettas the top, bichirs the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Betta | Bichir | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 76–82 °F | 72–82 °F |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | 6.5–7.5 |
| Adult size | 2.5 in | 12.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 5 gal | 75 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims at | Top | Bottom |
| Group | One per tank | Alone or in pairs |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for bettas
Better tank mates for bichirs
Questions
Can bettas live with bichirs?
No. Bettas and bichirs should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
What temperature suits both bettas and bichirs?
76–82 °F. Bettas need 76–82 °F, bichirs need 72–82 °F.
What size tank do bettas and bichirs need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the bichir. Add space for each extra fish.