Can bichirs live with serpae tetras?

Verdict
No

No. Bichirs and serpae tetras should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.75 inches serpae tetras do.

BichirBichir72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5 Serpae tetraSerpae tetra72–79°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°Serpae tetra 72–79°
The green band is the temperature range both can live in.
456789Both: 6.5–7.5Bichir 6.5–7.5Serpae tetra 6–7.5
The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Bichir · 12 inSerpae tetra · 1.75 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

BichirSerpae tetra
Temperature72–82 °F72–79 °F
pH6.5–7.56–7.5
Adult size12.0 in1.75 in
Minimum tank75 gal20 gal
TemperamentSemi-aggressiveSemi-aggressive
Swims atBottomMiddle
GroupAlone or in pairsGroups of 6+
DietCarnivoreOmnivore

Better tank mates for bichirs

All bichir tank mates

Better tank mates for serpae tetras

All serpae tetra tank mates

Questions

Can bichirs live with serpae tetras?

No. Bichirs and serpae tetras should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.75 inches serpae tetras do.

What temperature suits both bichirs and serpae tetras?

72–79 °F. Bichirs need 72–82 °F, serpae tetras need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do bichirs and serpae tetras need together?

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