Can bichirs live with arowanas?
Verdict
No
No. Bichirs and arowanas should not share a tank. An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 12 inches bichirs do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 12 inches bichirs do.
- Deal breakerArowanas are aggressive and much bigger than bichirs.
What works
- Both are fine at 75–82°F.
- pH 6.5–7 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: bichirs the bottom, arowanas the top.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Bichir | Silver arowana | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–82 °F | 75–86 °F |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | 6–7 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 36.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 250 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Aggressive |
| Swims at | Bottom | Top |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | One per tank |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for bichirs
Questions
Can bichirs live with arowanas?
No. Bichirs and arowanas should not share a tank. An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 12 inches bichirs do.
What temperature suits both bichirs and arowanas?
75–82 °F. Bichirs need 72–82 °F, arowanas need 75–86 °F.
What size tank do bichirs and arowanas need together?
At least 250 gal, set by the silver arowana. Add space for each extra fish.