New to MFK: Bichir and Tiger Oscar compatible?

[Ursvamp86]

Hello all, I recently signed up to this fine website and have a general question about fish compatibility. Would having a Tiger Oscar around the same size as a Dinosaur Bichir cause them to fight or cause territorial issues? what if there were more than one of each? also what would be the recommended size of tank for say 2-3 of each? thanks for your help!

 

[yo_fish_boi]

i am keeping 3 bichirs with tiger oscars and they really are fine together,they don't bother each other.just make sure that the bichis are not small enough for the oscar to swallow or eat. ...

 

[Nabbig2]

Yeah they should be fine BUT make sure the bichir manages to get something to eat, as oscars will greedily snatch up food quickly.

EDIT: Oh and welcome to Monster Fish Keepers.

 

[Angler]

Generally, New World cichlids and bichirs are compatible. What size tank do you have?

 

[Ursvamp86]

Thanks for all the replies, a very friendly community! so they should be fine but oscars are gluttons so make sure the bichir is to get food. as far as the tank goes i havent decided yet i already have two 15 gallons empty but i wanted to get a bigger one maybe 50 or 40, any suggestions?

 

[rallysman]

For a combination of bichirs and an Oscar I'd say you need to look at 75g plus. They grow fast and have their own territorial issues (as well as a huge appetite). Check craigslist for deals on large tanks

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

Agree on them being compatible, but I would also try to occasionally target feed the polypterus as (IME with my cichlid and polypterus mix) the cichlids will at times not allow the bichir time to get to food...so I'll just put a large krill or silverside on tongs and make sure they eat that

 

[Pomatomus]

I have a 55g with an oscar, bichir, cichlasoma salvini, red devil, jack dempsey, green severum, wild pleco, wild black acara, wild Mayan cichlid, freshwater moray, and a few wild jewel cichlids (don't worry they're small and they will be getting a bigger tank this year). The oscar is actually a bit of a sissy with that company, and nobody ever bothers the 6" bichir. Not even the red devil or jewel cichlids!

 

[swede]

i would make sure that the bichir has places to hide in case aggression over food/space becomes an issue.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

I have a 55g with an oscar, bichir, cichlasoma salvini, red devil, jack dempsey, green severum, wild pleco, wild black acara, wild Mayan cichlid, freshwater moray, and a few wild jewel cichlids (don't worry they're small and they will be getting a bigger tank this year). The oscar is actually a bit of a sissy with that company, and nobody ever bothers the 6" bichir. Not even the red devil or jewel cichlids!

safe to say that tank is more than just a little overstocked.