Tank mates for Senegal bichirs

We checked Senegal bichirs against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for Senegal bichirs include nerite snail, oscar, assassin snail, ramshorn snail, malaysian trumpet snail and mystery snail. Avoid betta fish, bronze corydoras and cherry shrimp: senegal bichir can eat bettas: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Senegal bichirs: 24–28°C (75–82°F), pH 6.2–7.8, adult size 30 cm (11.8 in), minimum tank 90 gallons (340 L). Full senegal bichir care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (17)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (44)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Angelfish · 29+ gal
    • Senegal bichir sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
  • Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bristlenose plecos.
    • Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
  • Common pleco · 150+ gal
    • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Senegal bichir hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat boesemani rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller boesemani rainbowfish.
  • Chinese algae eater · 80+ gal
    • Chinese algae eater defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
  • Convict cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Convict cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
  • Denison barb · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller denison barbs.
  • Discus · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 28–28°C).
  • Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
    • Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
  • Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Senegal bichir hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Jack Dempsey · 55+ gal
    • Jack Dempsey defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat kribensis, especially young or small ones.
    • Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
  • Kuhli loach · 20+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat kuhli loaches, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller kuhli loaches.
  • Molly · 29+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat mollies, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller mollies.
  • Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
    • Senegal bichir sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of pearl gouramis are an easy target.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller pearl gouramis.
  • Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller pictus catfish.
  • Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
    • Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
  • Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
    • Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
  • Rosy barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Senegal bichir may eat rosy barbs, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller rosy barbs.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Senegal bichir sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of three spot gouramis are an easy target.
  • Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller yoyo loaches.
  • African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
    • Senegal bichir sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of african butterfly fish are an easy target.
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Senegal bichir hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Clown pleco · 20+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat clown plecos, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown plecos.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Senegal bichir may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
  • Giant danio · 55+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Senegal bichir may eat giant danios, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller giant danios.
  • Golden wonder killifish · 20+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat golden wonder killifish, especially young or small ones.
  • Green terror · 80+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • Jewel cichlid · 40+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat jewel cichlids, especially young or small ones.
  • Panda garra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Senegal bichir may eat panda garras, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller panda garras.
  • Red rainbowfish · 40+ gal
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller red rainbowfish.
  • Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller rubber lip plecos.
    • Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
  • Scissortail rasbora · 55+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller scissortail rasboras.
  • Swordtail · 29+ gal
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller swordtails.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller turquoise rainbowfish.
  • Upside-down catfish · 29+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat upside-down catfish, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller upside-down catfish.
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Senegal bichir hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Zebra loach · 29+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat zebra loaches, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller zebra loaches.
  • Keyhole cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat keyhole cichlids, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller keyhole cichlids.
  • Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
    • Senegal bichir sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller moonlight gouramis.
  • Thick-lipped gourami · 20+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat thick-lipped gouramis, especially young or small ones.
    • Senegal bichir sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller thick-lipped gouramis.

Avoid Bad tank mates (88)

  • Betta fish: Senegal bichir can eat bettas: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bronze corydoras: Senegal bichir can eat bronze corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Cherry shrimp: Senegal bichir eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Senegal bichir 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Dwarf gourami: Senegal bichir can eat dwarf gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Senegal bichir 24–28°C (75–82°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Guppy: Senegal bichir can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Neon tetra: Senegal bichir can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Panda corydoras: Senegal bichir can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Tiger barb: Senegal bichir can eat tiger barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Zebra danio: Senegal bichir can eat zebra danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • African dwarf frog: Senegal bichir can eat African dwarf frogs.
  • Black skirt tetra: Senegal bichir can eat black skirt tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Cardinal tetra: Senegal bichir can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Celestial pearl danio: Senegal bichir can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Cherry barb: Senegal bichir can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Chili rasbora: Senegal bichir can eat chili rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Senegal bichir 24–28°C (75–82°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Dwarf neon rainbowfish: Senegal bichir can eat dwarf neon rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Senegal bichirs don't belong in that setup.
  • Ember tetra: Senegal bichir can eat ember tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • German blue ram: Senegal bichir can eat German blue rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glowlight tetra: Senegal bichir can eat glowlight tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Harlequin rasbora: Senegal bichir can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Hillstream loach: Senegal bichir can eat hillstream loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Honey gourami: Senegal bichir can eat honey gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Julii corydoras: Senegal bichir can eat julii corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Otocinclus: Senegal bichir can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Pea puffer: Senegal bichir can eat pea puffers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
  • Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Senegal bichirs don't belong in that setup.
  • Peppered corydoras: Senegal bichir can eat peppered corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Platy: Senegal bichir can eat platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Pygmy corydoras: Senegal bichir can eat pygmy corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Senegal bichirs don't belong in that setup.
  • Rummy-nose tetra: Senegal bichir can eat rummy-nose tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Sterbai corydoras: Senegal bichir can eat sterbai corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Senegal bichir 24–28°C (75–82°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F). Senegal bichir can eat white cloud mountain minnows: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • X-ray tetra: Senegal bichir can eat x-ray tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid: Senegal bichir can eat Agassiz's dwarf cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black neon tetra: Senegal bichir can eat black neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black phantom tetra: Senegal bichir can eat black phantom tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bleeding heart tetra: Senegal bichir can eat bleeding heart tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bloodfin tetra: Senegal bichir can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bolivian ram: Senegal bichir can eat Bolivian rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Buenos Aires tetra: Senegal bichir can eat buenos Aires tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bumblebee catfish: Senegal bichir can eat bumblebee catfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Clown killifish: Senegal bichir can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Cockatoo cichlid: Senegal bichir can eat cockatoo cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Congo tetra: Senegal bichir can eat Congo tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Crystal red shrimp: Senegal bichir eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Senegal bichir can eat demasoni cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Senegal bichirs don't belong in that setup.
  • Diamond tetra: Senegal bichir can eat diamond tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Dwarf chain loach: Senegal bichir can eat dwarf chain loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Emerald green corydoras: Senegal bichir can eat emerald green corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Emperor tetra: Senegal bichir can eat emperor tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Endler's livebearer: Senegal bichir can eat Endler's livebearers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Forktail blue-eye: Senegal bichir can eat forktail blue-eyes: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Senegal bichirs don't belong in that setup.
  • Gardneri killifish: Senegal bichir can eat gardneri killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glass catfish: Senegal bichir can eat glass catfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Gold barb: Senegal bichir can eat gold barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Head and tail light tetra: Senegal bichir can eat head and tail light tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Kubotai rasbora: Senegal bichir can eat kubotai rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Lambchop rasbora: Senegal bichir can eat lambchop rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Lemon tetra: Senegal bichir can eat lemon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Marbled hatchetfish: Senegal bichir can eat marbled hatchetfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Odessa barb: Senegal bichir can eat odessa barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Paradise fish: Senegal bichir can eat paradise fish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Peacock gudgeon: Senegal bichir can eat peacock gudgeons: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Penguin tetra: Senegal bichir can eat penguin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rosy loach: Senegal bichir can eat rosy loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rosy tetra: Senegal bichir can eat rosy tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Scarlet badis: Senegal bichir can eat scarlet badis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Serpae tetra: Senegal bichir can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Shell dweller cichlid: Senegal bichir can eat shell dweller cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Senegal bichirs don't belong in that setup.
  • Sparkling gourami: Senegal bichir can eat sparkling gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Threadfin rainbowfish: Senegal bichir can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Zebra pleco: Senegal bichir can eat zebra plecos: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black ruby barb: Senegal bichir can eat black ruby barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Checkerboard barb: Senegal bichir can eat checkerboard barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Dwarf rasbora: Senegal bichir can eat dwarf rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Flame tetra: Senegal bichir can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glowlight danio: Senegal bichir can eat glowlight danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Green neon tetra: Senegal bichir can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Least killifish: Senegal bichir can eat least killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Pearl danio: Senegal bichir can eat pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Silvertip tetra: Senegal bichir can eat silvertip tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Variatus platy: Senegal bichir can eat variatus platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with Senegal bichirs?

Good tank mates for Senegal bichirs include nerite snail, oscar, assassin snail, ramshorn snail, malaysian trumpet snail and mystery snail. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat Senegal bichirs.

Can Senegal bichirs live with angelfish?

Sometimes, with care. Senegal bichir sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.

Can Senegal bichirs live with bettas?

No. Senegal bichir can eat bettas: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Senegal bichir sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.

Can Senegal bichirs live with bristlenose plecos?

Sometimes, with care. Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bristlenose plecos. Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.

Can Senegal bichirs live with bronze corydoras?

No. Senegal bichir can eat bronze corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bronze corydoras.

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.