I have a tsn that lives with a bunch of small cichlids and quite a ffew bichirs and gars with no problems. He is almost two feet. I just provide several large feeders that are just a little smaller than my smallest cichlid every three days. Works like a charm. I think he is timid about eating cichlids since he swallowed a needle nose gar when he was smalled and it almost stuck out of his stomach. Has been a year since he ate anything. sweet huh?