Can bichirs live with otocinclus?

Verdict
No

No. Bichirs and otocinclus should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches otocinclus do.

BichirBichir72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5 OtocinclusOtocinclus72–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

What works

Water side by side

55°60°65°70°75°80°85°90°Both: 72–79°Bichir 72–82°Otocinclus 72–79°
The green band is the temperature range both can live in.
456789Both: 6.5–7.5Bichir 6.5–7.5Otocinclus 6–7.5
The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Bichir · 12 inOtocinclus · 2 in0"2"4"6"8"10"12"
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

BichirOtocinclus
Temperature72–82 °F72–79 °F
pH6.5–7.56–7.5
Adult size12.0 in2.0 in
Minimum tank75 gal20 gal
TemperamentSemi-aggressivePeaceful
Swims atBottomBottom
GroupAlone or in pairsGroups of 6+
DietCarnivoreHerbivore

Better tank mates for bichirs

All bichir tank mates

Better tank mates for otocinclus

All otocinclus tank mates

Questions

Can bichirs live with otocinclus?

No. Bichirs and otocinclus should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches otocinclus do.

What temperature suits both bichirs and otocinclus?

72–79 °F. Bichirs need 72–82 °F, otocinclus need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do bichirs and otocinclus need together?

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