Senegal With Buenos Aires Tetras?

[onidrase]

Hello, I have a small senegal bichir in my aquarium which I was going to rehome (and stocked without him in mind because of this plan) due to him being picked on by my convict and firemouth when those two were in the same tank. However, I moved both my convict and firemouth into a different tank, and I've been thinking of keeping the senegal if he won't be a threat to my other fish.

Other fish meaning my buenos aires, assuming he won't try to consume raphael catfish or a green terror and red spotted severum.

I currently have a large school of 20 buenos aires tetras in my 75 gallon tank. In my experience, these guys are the most agile fish ever. They can avoid everything with ease, and even swim out of nets that they get caught in if I try to scoop them out. The bichir has always been kinda sluggish and lazy, not to mention clumsy when he's eating, but at the same time, he's just a little guy, about 3 inches at best, and that might change eventually. I don't know much about bichirs, he was kind of an impulse buy.

I get mixed reviews on how small is too small to keep with senegal bichirs. some people say that fish have to be at least half the bichirs full size, and the wider bodied the better, and others say at least 3 inches is fine.

On a side note, would a bichir even be able to catch such an agile decently sized species of fish in such a large school?

 

[Chitala Ornata Mama]

I have 6 buenos aires tetras in my grow out tank. I put them in there because I was going to stop growing things out for awhile, but that never goes as planned. I have 3 senegals in there now, and everyone gets along fine. It's the endli in there that causes the ruckus. Provided the sens stay full, they don't get all that big, and you may always be safe keeping them together. It's always at your own risk, but so far, I haven't had a problem. Are your tetras pretty good size, like full grown?

 

[onidrase]

all the fish are young, none are full sized as of yet.

 

[Chitala Ornata Mama]

Well, so far my sens haven't bothered anyone. They're pretty easy going. I hope you have the same luck I do!

 

[benzjamin13]

It's risky as the Sen grows. I've kept an Albino Sen with Congo Tetras before and never had any issues. However, my friend liked my set up and decided to do the same. His Albino Sen took down a Congo Tetra. He said he was surprised since the Tetra was pretty big compared to the Sen's head and he didn't think that it would've happened.

 

[JamesF]

Agility doesn't matter. The bichir tends to eat other fish at night, when they settle down to the bottom to rest. Once the mouth opens, the fish in front is screwed. That doesn't mean it won't work. A fish that one sen will eat, another will completely ignore.

 

[jordanlewis100]

all bichirs have different personalities (as do most fish),i have seen some senegals kept with 2-3" fish no probs others can and do catch and eat surprisinly large fish,it's more of a trial and error thing but personally i wouldn't risk it and would keep the bichir with other larger peaceful fish

 

[cullens089]

I have had a school of them reduced to just 2 after my endli would just kill them and not eat them but will leave tiger barbs alone so its really up to the fish

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[Andrew1002]

I have 5 buenos aires I had 6 but I put one in my turtle tank because it was getting bullied and I checked back and either my jack dempseys killed it, the turtles killed it, or it's hiding. Because I have extremely highly decorated tank which would take like 30 minutes to check all spots to hide. But these are the fastest fish that you can buy. They are so quick! I can't even catch them in my 10 gallon when I take out all my deco. But these things are extremely fast! So they will probably outlast ur fish


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[NCStateFisher]

my delhezi thinks BA tetras are delicious