According to Beblondie's stickie,
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...ypterids-an-introduction-and-primer-3-0/page2
10 gallon is okay until 8". She even recommended only 5 gallons of water!
Sand or gravel is ok.
I grew out 3 senegals in the same 10 gallon tank simultaneously to 6-7" no problem.
Senegals are active top/mid/bottom level hunters, so they don't have the restriction of sand only in my opinion.
In the wild, senegals eat insects from the top.
(Ex. Unlike Endlicheris which require sand, as they are bury-and-ambush predators, and have a jaw facing upward)
Bichirs will grow in a completely barren tank, or a fully decorated tank. But maybe a plant or 2 will make them feel more comfortable.
For live plants, any rosette plants would work better. I find bichirs dig up stem plants much faster. I'm ending up with valisneria, amazon sword, crytocoryne, crinums staying rooted. All rosettes.
Tank mates, black skirt tetras, corys, rams are on the dinner menu once the senegal is 6"+. Probably any fish 3" or less is on the dinner menu.
My bichir tank is ending up with snakeskin gouramis (up to 10") as tankmates. Large enough not to be attacked, and passive enough not to eat the bichir's eyes.
