Bichir care

Water temperature

72–82°F

Bichirs do best at 72–82°F and pH 6.5–7.5. Plan on 75 gallons or more. Good tank mates include oscars, bala sharks, kissing gouramis.

Primitive predator that eats any fish it can swallow.

Polypterus senegalus

pH

6.5–7.5

Minimum tank

75 gal

Adult size

12.0 in

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group

Alone or in pairs

Lifespan

10–15 years

Swims at

Bottom

Diet

Carnivore

Best tank mates

• OscarYes
• Bala sharkYes
• Kissing gouramiYes
• Electric blue acaraYes
• Tinfoil barbYes
• Common plecoYes
• Black ghost knifeYes
• SeverumYes
• KoiYes
• Elephant nose fishYes
• Blood parrotYes
• Silver dollarYes

Full bichir tank mate chart: 17 yes, 8 with care, 73 no

Bichir water compared

Fish to keep away from bichirs

• Betta An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); bichirs need 72–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Pea puffer An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1 inches pea puffers do.
• Guppy An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches guppies do.
• Angelfish An adult bichir is twice the size of an angelfish and will hunt or batter a slow, long-finned fish like this.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); bichirs need 72–82°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Honey gourami An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches honey gouramis do.
• Tiger barb An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches tiger barbs do.

More oddballs

• Pea puffer74–82°F
• Killifish70–77°F
• Black ghost knife73–82°F
• Elephant nose fish73–82°F
• Silver arowana75–86°F