Can bristlenose plecos live with bichirs?

Verdict
No

No. Bristlenose plecos and bichirs should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches bristlenose plecos do.

Bristlenose plecoBristlenose pleco73–81°F · pH 6.5–7.5 BichirBichir72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

What works

Water side by side

55°60°65°70°75°80°85°90°Both: 73–81°Bristlenose pleco 73–81°Bichir 72–82°
The green band is the temperature range both can live in.
456789Both: 6.5–7.5Bristlenose pleco 6.5–7.5Bichir 6.5–7.5
The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Bristlenose pleco · 5 inBichir · 12 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

Bristlenose plecoBichir
Temperature73–81 °F72–82 °F
pH6.5–7.56.5–7.5
Adult size5.0 in12.0 in
Minimum tank30 gal75 gal
TemperamentPeacefulSemi-aggressive
Swims atBottomBottom
GroupAlone or in pairsAlone or in pairs
DietHerbivoreCarnivore

Better tank mates for bristlenose plecos

All bristlenose pleco tank mates

Better tank mates for bichirs

All bichir tank mates

Questions

Can bristlenose plecos live with bichirs?

No. Bristlenose plecos and bichirs should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches bristlenose plecos do.

What temperature suits both bristlenose plecos and bichirs?

73–81 °F. Bristlenose plecos need 73–81 °F, bichirs need 72–82 °F.

What size tank do bristlenose plecos and bichirs need together?

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