Can bichirs live with upside down catfish?

Verdict
No

No. Bichirs and upside down catfish should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 4 inches upside down catfish do.

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

Size to scale

Bichir · 12 inUpside down catfish · 4 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

BichirUpside down catfish
Temperature72–82 °F72–79 °F
pH6.5–7.56–7.5
Adult size12.0 in4.0 in
Minimum tank75 gal30 gal
TemperamentSemi-aggressivePeaceful
Swims atBottomBottom
GroupAlone or in pairsGroups of 3+
DietCarnivoreOmnivore

Better tank mates for bichirs

All bichir tank mates

Better tank mates for upside down catfish

All upside down catfish tank mates

Questions

Can bichirs live with upside down catfish?

No. Bichirs and upside down catfish should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 4 inches upside down catfish do.

What temperature suits both bichirs and upside down catfish?

72–79 °F. Bichirs need 72–82 °F, upside down catfish need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do bichirs and upside down catfish need together?

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