Can discus live with bichirs?
Verdict
No
No. Discus and bichirs should not share a tank. An adult bichir is twice the size of a discus and will hunt or batter a slow, long-finned fish like this.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult bichir is twice the size of a discus and will hunt or batter a slow, long-finned fish like this.
- Watch outThey only share 82°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
- Watch outBichirs are much bigger and pushier than discus, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.
What works
- pH 6.5–7 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: discus the mid, bichirs the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Discus | Bichir | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 82–88 °F | 72–82 °F |
| pH | 5.5–7 | 6.5–7.5 |
| Adult size | 6.0 in | 12.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 55 gal | 75 gal |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims at | Middle | Bottom |
| Group | Groups of 5+ | Alone or in pairs |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for discus
Better tank mates for bichirs
Questions
Can discus live with bichirs?
No. Discus and bichirs should not share a tank. An adult bichir is twice the size of a discus and will hunt or batter a slow, long-finned fish like this.
What temperature suits both discus and bichirs?
82–82 °F. Discus need 82–88 °F, bichirs need 72–82 °F.
What size tank do discus and bichirs need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the bichir. Add space for each extra fish.