a butti is a great fish it really just doesn;t like other fish. I have had two and i got them smaller then the other fish in the tank, the other fish keep in line at first but buttis grow quick and one day might seem in line , but the next day all hell can break loose. My last one killed a convict, a jag, a pair of jacks, a catfish , and made a red devil that it made hide all day. do to its shape the bichir and the rope fish should work