Can African Arowana and Congo Bichir Live Together?

African Arowana is a generally mild-mannered species (4/10), while Congo Bichir is semi-aggressive (7/10). This modest difference means Congo Bichir may occasionally assert dominance over African Arowana.

African Arowana and Congo Bichir both frequent the Bottom (Substrate) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

Worth noting: Congo Bichir is nocturnal and will be most active after lights-out, naturally reducing daytime encounters. Also, African Arowana is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 24°C and 30°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 27.0°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 6.5 and 8. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 5–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house African Arowana and Congo Bichir together, plan for an aquarium of at least 1500 litres with a minimum length of 250 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

Because this pairing requires extra vigilance, include plenty of hiding spots — caves, driftwood, and dense plant clusters — so the less dominant fish can retreat when needed.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Sand (Sifters), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding). Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Both species do well with moderate (standard) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.