TankmateChecker

Can bichirs live with severums?

Verdict

Yes

Yes, bichirs and severums can live together. Both are fine at 74–82°F. Plan on at least 75 gal.

Bichir

Bichir72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Severum

Severum74–84°F · pH 6–7

Why it works

Both are fine at 74–82°F.
pH 6.5–7 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: bichirs the bottom, severums 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	Severum
Temperature	72–82 °F	74–84 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–7
Adult size	12.0 in	8.0 in
Minimum tank	75 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for bichirs

All bichir tank mates

Better tank mates for severums

All severum tank mates

Questions

Can bichirs live with severums?

Yes, bichirs and severums can live together. Both are fine at 74–82°F. Plan on at least 75 gal.

What temperature suits both bichirs and severums?

74–82 °F. Bichirs need 72–82 °F, severums need 74–84 °F.

What size tank do bichirs and severums need together?

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