Adding cichlids to my tank with bichir

[Connershawzz]

I’ve always loved cichlids and the fish of the month was the tipping point. I just want a few cichlids to finish my tank stocking. I’ve been doing some research and s lot of stuff I’ve read said they should get along with bichir. Obviously they need to be the correct sizing i know we got some cichlid experts on here so I appreciate the feed back

 

[Colin_T]

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website (Water Analysis Report) or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

How big are the birchirs and what is their maximum size?

 

[GaryE]

I have a real problem with 'can' versus 'should' in the aquarium hobby. To me, bichirs are cool fish that occupy the bottom of a tank. Cichlids are cool fish that occupy the bottom of a tank. Competition in close quarters creates weird behaviour, and even if no one dies, no one really lives. They would stay away from each other in nature, but we put them in a glass box and they have nowhere to go.
They'll be in each other's way, and never really get to act as they want to (and as we want them to) unless one completely dominates the other.

There is an easy solution though. Decide what Cichlid species fascinate you the most, and get a tank for them. MTS (Multiple Tank Syndrome) solves many problems. But if you don't have the resources for 2 tanks, I'd suggest you don't have space for Cichlids with the bichir.

 

[AJ356]

I wouldn't do it. For me it's not fair on the bichirs at feeding time. I've got a experience with this.

 

[Magnum Man]

I have to agree with most posted so far... IMO, it would depend on the Cichlid, as that's a large & diverse family of fish... for example... rams would likely end up as food for the bichir... an Oscar would likely end up killing the bichir... so I guess my response would be... it depends on your choice of Cichlid... I'm sure there would be several, that would be fine, & several that could be disasters... the shape of a bichir doesn't lend itself to self defense very well...

BTW... my bichir is in with a school of silver dollars, & the silver dollars would out compete the Bichir with pelleted food... my bichir does get a pellet once in a while, but is not really interested in the vegi pellets the Silver dollars get as a staple... but my Bichir gets Rosy Minnows, at 20 cents a piece from the semi local pet store... I buy 2 dollars worth, every couple weeks when I get paid, & the Bichir has learned to be a competent hunter, & the Silver Dollars have no interest in the Rosy's... but depending on the Cichlid, even feeding live feed, some Cichlids, would be a more speedy hunter... even an Angel fish will hunt... I tried to introduce cardinal tetras into one tank, & my angel in that tank, hunted them down, with a passion... so, finding the right combination of fish & sizes at the right time may be more challenging, than one would think...

 

[Connershawzz]

I have an about 5” Senegal , a 6” or 7” delhezi and a little 3” ansorgii(which is the one I’m worried about). Maybe I will get a 3rd tank I have my bichir tank and a live bearer tank already. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to any of the fish. How are cichlids with harder water? Where I’m located (Utah/usa) we have very hard water in able to get everything good for the bichir and swordtails cause they can handle harder water.

 

[Magnum Man]

Most aquarium Cichlids are softer water fish, but it really depends... rift lake African Cichlids are a really hard water fish, so it depends where they are from...

 

[Magnum Man]

the fish in @robbiek22 's ... Fish of the month contest picture are hard water Cichlids

 

[Connershawzz]

the fish in @robbiek22 's ... Fish of the month contest picture are hard water Cichlids

That picture is the one that broke me down into wanting some. I LOVE those bright colors and their shape. My dad’s got a pretty big yellow one that he’s had for a few years. So my decision is probably a new cichlid tank then. My ph is usually always around 7.0-7.5. Haven’t tested my hardness for a sec since my tanks been cycled and I’m finally able to relax and let it do its thing without stressing. This is what I could get from the city