Can bichirs live with jack dempseys?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Bichirs and jack dempseys can share a tank, but watch one thing. Jack dempseys are aggressive. Bichirs hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.

Bichir72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Jack Dempsey72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outJack dempseys are aggressive. Bichirs hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.

What works

Both are fine at 72–82°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: bichirs the bottom, jack dempseys the mid.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Bichir	Jack Dempsey
Temperature	72–82 °F	72–86 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6.5–7.5
Adult size	12.0 in	10.0 in
Minimum tank	75 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for bichirs

All bichir tank mates

Better tank mates for jack dempseys

CrayfishYes

All jack dempsey tank mates

Questions

Can bichirs live with jack dempseys?

Yes, with care. Bichirs and jack dempseys can share a tank, but watch one thing. Jack dempseys are aggressive. Bichirs hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.

What temperature suits both bichirs and jack dempseys?

72–82 °F. Bichirs need 72–82 °F, jack dempseys need 72–86 °F.

What size tank do bichirs and jack dempseys need together?

At least 75 gal, set by the bichir. Add space for each extra fish.