Can bichirs live with white cloud minnows?

Verdict

No. Bichirs and white cloud minnows should not share a tank. White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); bichirs need 72–82°F. They meet only at 72°F, the edge of both ranges.

Bichir72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

White cloud minnow60–72°F · pH 6–8

What to watch

Deal breakerWhite cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); bichirs need 72–82°F. They meet only at 72°F, the edge of both ranges.
Deal breakerAn adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches white cloud minnows do.
Watch outBichirs grow to 12 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for white cloud minnows.

What works

pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: bichirs the bottom, white cloud minnows 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	White cloud minnow
Temperature	72–82 °F	60–72 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–8
Adult size	12.0 in	1.5 in
Minimum tank	75 gal	10 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for bichirs

All bichir tank mates

Better tank mates for white cloud minnows

All white cloud minnow tank mates

Questions

Can bichirs live with white cloud minnows?

No. Bichirs and white cloud minnows should not share a tank. White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); bichirs need 72–82°F. They meet only at 72°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both bichirs and white cloud minnows?

72–72 °F. Bichirs need 72–82 °F, white cloud minnows need 60–72 °F.

What size tank do bichirs and white cloud minnows need together?

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