Can Cuban Gar and West African Bichir Live Together?

Cuban Gar is a moderately assertive species (6/10), while West African Bichir is moderately assertive (5/10). This modest difference means Cuban Gar may occasionally assert dominance over West African Bichir.

In terms of spatial distribution, Cuban Gar prefers the Top (Surface) and Middle (Open Water) zones, whereas West African Bichir occupies the Bottom (Substrate) zone. Because they use different levels of the water column, territorial disputes are less likely and the tank will appear more balanced.

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

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 24°C and 28°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 26.0°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 8–20 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house Cuban Gar and West African Bichir together, plan for an aquarium of at least 3785 litres with a minimum length of 300 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: Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), Sand (Sifters), 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.

This pairing usually fails when the tank is treated like a standard mixed community and the caution flags are ignored. Cuban Gar and West African Bichir need extra room, more cover, and closer observation during the first few weeks so small aggression, feeding, or territory issues do not snowball into a long-term problem.