Can honey gouramis live with bichirs?
Verdict
No
No. Honey gouramis and bichirs should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches honey gouramis do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches honey gouramis do.
- Watch outBichirs are much bigger and pushier than honey gouramis, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.
- Watch outBichirs grow to 12 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for honey gouramis.
What works
- Both are fine at 72–82°F.
- pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: honey gouramis the top, bichirs the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Honey gourami | Bichir | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–82 °F | 72–82 °F |
| pH | 6–7.5 | 6.5–7.5 |
| Adult size | 2.0 in | 12.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 10 gal | 75 gal |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims at | Top | Bottom |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Alone or in pairs |
| Diet | Omnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for honey gouramis
Better tank mates for bichirs
Questions
Can honey gouramis live with bichirs?
No. Honey gouramis and bichirs should not share a tank. An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches honey gouramis do.
What temperature suits both honey gouramis and bichirs?
72–82 °F. Honey gouramis need 72–82 °F, bichirs need 72–82 °F.
What size tank do honey gouramis and bichirs need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the bichir. Add space for each extra fish.