it seems to come up alot what can i keep with my bichir we'll things to consider when getting tankmates are
(aggression) while tuff do to there special armor like skin they don't really defend themselfs and prefer to swim away rather then fight so a fish that is territorial or aggressive isn't a good pick. fish with bichirs need to be less aggressive or need to ignore it. if it pesters the bichir it could cause alot of stress to it and things can go bad fast with fish like cichlids or other fish that can do some damage to the bichir
(feeding) because they like to eat from the bottem and are some what slow finding food fish that are aggressive feeders won't work to we'll as they might eat the food before it gets to the bichir most of the time feeding when the ligths are off will solve this proublem but with some fast catfish it could make it worse
(the bichir itself) they are preditory but not aggessive this is the most important thing to remember they can and WILL eat fish able to fit in there mouths but will pretty much ignore any other fish they also like to chomp fish at night when exploring there tank when the bumb into a fish thats not much bigger then it they may try to bite it to see if it fits in there mouth and can grab fins and soft spots and do some damage but defenitly will not seek fish out to hurt fish or rip them apart for food but fish like angle fish or other long finned fish can sometimes be without fins over time which may kill the fish eventually but just keep them we'll feed in those cases.
(plecos and other suckers) alot of people ask this too. most bichir keepers won't let plecos near there bichir tanks because they can devolope a taste for the slime coating of bichirs and may stress the bichir and leave it vonerible to infection and is some cases with big plecos can remove scales so watch them if you keep plecos and bichirs togeather
(other bichirs) most of the time bichirs don't mind other bichirs i've heard the senegals, laps and ornates can be intollorent of other bichirs but i have seen many bichirs kept togeather and some prefer to live with there cousins so most of the time they do fine togeather
so i hope this is of some help to somebody and will lower the amount of threads about what to keep with your bichir unless its about a spescific fish not weither bichirs are aggressive or not
and of course feel free to add to or comment on any thing said ubove
thanks bichir and future bichir keepers
(aggression) while tuff do to there special armor like skin they don't really defend themselfs and prefer to swim away rather then fight so a fish that is territorial or aggressive isn't a good pick. fish with bichirs need to be less aggressive or need to ignore it. if it pesters the bichir it could cause alot of stress to it and things can go bad fast with fish like cichlids or other fish that can do some damage to the bichir
(feeding) because they like to eat from the bottem and are some what slow finding food fish that are aggressive feeders won't work to we'll as they might eat the food before it gets to the bichir most of the time feeding when the ligths are off will solve this proublem but with some fast catfish it could make it worse
(the bichir itself) they are preditory but not aggessive this is the most important thing to remember they can and WILL eat fish able to fit in there mouths but will pretty much ignore any other fish they also like to chomp fish at night when exploring there tank when the bumb into a fish thats not much bigger then it they may try to bite it to see if it fits in there mouth and can grab fins and soft spots and do some damage but defenitly will not seek fish out to hurt fish or rip them apart for food but fish like angle fish or other long finned fish can sometimes be without fins over time which may kill the fish eventually but just keep them we'll feed in those cases.
(plecos and other suckers) alot of people ask this too. most bichir keepers won't let plecos near there bichir tanks because they can devolope a taste for the slime coating of bichirs and may stress the bichir and leave it vonerible to infection and is some cases with big plecos can remove scales so watch them if you keep plecos and bichirs togeather
(other bichirs) most of the time bichirs don't mind other bichirs i've heard the senegals, laps and ornates can be intollorent of other bichirs but i have seen many bichirs kept togeather and some prefer to live with there cousins so most of the time they do fine togeather
so i hope this is of some help to somebody and will lower the amount of threads about what to keep with your bichir unless its about a spescific fish not weither bichirs are aggressive or not
and of course feel free to add to or comment on any thing said ubove
thanks bichir and future bichir keepers
It was helpful, man. Mine does well with peacefull SA cichlids and plecos, although now I will be watching my plecos very closely. My plecs usually slam on veggies, though. It really does depend on the personality of the fish, they seem very smart.