Can I keep these with Ornate Bichirs?

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Billjensen

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 19, 2011
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Nebraska
I will have a 240 gallon tank coming my way in the near future and would really love to have a few Bichirs. I was thinking maybe 2 Ornates but I don't know what I can keep with them :nilly:
I was thinking of maybe a Jardini, some Payara, African Pike, some kind of gar, pleco, or...idk!

I need help. Would those be safe in there? Would they attack my bichirs or would my bichirs attack them? How many of each can I put in the tank (I don't want to over-do it). And do you have any other suggestions as to what would be nice in the tank? I reeally don't know...I just know I love the look of bichirs and want some good looking and aggressive fish with them...just not aggressive towards them :D

EDIT: I already ahve one Oscar as well. Should I give him to a new home or would he be fine too?
 
they COULD be all fine depending one the nature on the payara, pike and jardini. The the jardini may turn rogue when it hits 10 inches or so and attack every single fish in the tank minus the bottom dwellers. If your payara has an aggresive nature, it may leave no survivors. not sure with the pike. also it depends on the payara ur keeping. maybe a bigger tank would help. Personnally i would suggest a black aro instead of the jard.
 
i wouldn't worry of the bichirs attacking ur other fish or ur other fish attacking the bichir. i would only worry about the other fish attacking each other. Are you gonna put armatus in the tank??
 
Yes I would like to. But not if he is going to attack the other fish =/

Instead of Payara I could try some kind of Gar. Any recommendations? And I would really like to have some kind of Arowana. I have seen a few Youtube videos with Bichirs and Arowana and it didn't seem to be an issue...but you guys think it would be?
 
Aros and Bichirs work just fine, but guessing that your 240g is 8'x2'x2'. I would say a Black Aro wouldn't be a good option unless you will upgrade. Same with the Payara unless you keep the smaller kinds, but most of the smaller kind will be devoured by your Bichirs when they grow to a certain size. Jardini would work for a long time, but it would depend on it's personality to say if it would be suitable for other top/mid dweller. I've had a bad experience with Gars and Payara. (Gar killed/ate my Payara, both similar size). Plecos aren't a great choice as tankmates for Bichirs, but some members have done it. Most experienced Gar keeper wouldn't suggest you keeping an Aro(except African Aro) with a Gar. Sometimes an Aro can spoke the Gar, causing it to have a broken back. In my experience, I haven't had a problem with Aro,Gar,Bichir (touch wood). Just my opinion. :) Hope it helped a little.
 
Thanks for the comment! I am for sur having Bichirs and I'd really love to have some kind of Arowana patrolling the top. But I don't just want only two kinds of fish. I have seen a video of a guy with Multiple Bichirs, a Jardini, and some Spotted Gar and it looked great.

But if I had the Bichirs and Arowana what else would you suggest I could put in the tank? I just want something that is compatible with the others and looks good/mean, and gets reletively big lol.

And how many Bichirs could I keep in there?
 
Billjensen said:
Thanks for the comment! I am for sur having Bichirs and I'd really love to have some kind of Arowana patrolling the top. But I don't just want only two kinds of fish. I have seen a video of a guy with Multiple Bichirs, a Jardini, and some Spotted Gar and it looked great.

But if I had the Bichirs and Arowana what else would you suggest I could put in the tank? I just want something that is compatible with the others and looks good/mean, and gets reletively big lol.

And how many Bichirs could I keep in there?
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As many as your filtration can handle. I've seen someone keep about 40-50 Bichirs in a 5'x2'x2'. Their bichirs ranged from 10" to 20".
 
Billjensen said:
What else would be good with Bichirs and Arowana if Payara are kind of ruled out?
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check out the datnoids and predetory characins. People have kept wolf fish and tiger fish with bichirs but not aros. If you are getting a wolf fish, get a red wolf fish. The problem is, the ornate might eat him!!
 
You are saying that I can't keep an arowana with bichirs but Wolf fish, tiger fish, and Payara are fine with Bichirs?

I'm so mixed up lol
 
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