Can bichirs live with pictus catfish?

Verdict
No

No. Bichirs and pictus catfish should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pictus catfish do.

BichirBichir72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5 Pictus catfishPictus catfish72–79°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°Pictus catfish 72–79°
The green band is the temperature range both can live in.
456789Both: 6.5–7.5Bichir 6.5–7.5Pictus catfish 6–7.5
The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Bichir · 12 inPictus catfish · 5 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

BichirPictus catfish
Temperature72–82 °F72–79 °F
pH6.5–7.56–7.5
Adult size12.0 in5.0 in
Minimum tank75 gal55 gal
TemperamentSemi-aggressiveSemi-aggressive
Swims atBottomBottom
GroupAlone or in pairsGroups of 3+
DietCarnivoreCarnivore

Better tank mates for bichirs

All bichir tank mates

Better tank mates for pictus catfish

All pictus catfish tank mates

Questions

Can bichirs live with pictus catfish?

No. Bichirs and pictus catfish should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pictus catfish do.

What temperature suits both bichirs and pictus catfish?

72–79 °F. Bichirs need 72–82 °F, pictus catfish need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do bichirs and pictus catfish need together?

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