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Hi. The LFS just got a Polypterus ornatipinnis "ornate bichir" and a P.delhezi "striped bichir" to me. I'm planning to keep them in a suitable tank (big) but i'm wondering if any of you have experiences of keeping bichirs with other interesting african (cat)fishes, preferable from similar locations. and if you got any tankmate suggestions? Synos? Clarias? Anyone kept them with african Channas? (i like the looks of Channa obscura!) I'm wondering...perhaps Xenomystus nigri "african knife"?

I've kept Polypterus with Asian Channa (C. pleurophthalma) without any problems.

They eat anything that's smaller than half their own size when it's elongated, or 1/3 to 1/4 their own size when it's not elongated.

apart from their appetite they're quite docile, but P ornatipinnis can be fiercely territorial to others of its' own species, especially in a small tank.

the smallest Polypterus pass the 1 foot mark with 1-2", so make sure your tank is up to the challenge.

Xenomystus, Elephantfish, medium-big Syno's, large adult Bushfish (Ctenopoma acutirostre and C kingsleyi), Anaspido/parauchenoglanis types are perfect. So are indeed mediumsized (NOT big ones!!) of Snake-heads like Channa obscura wich gets about the same size as P ornatipinnis, 30-35 cm.

If you're not a biotope-nutter; Dorads, mediumbig Asians, large docile cichlids and the bigger characins and barbs are all OK
about characins and barbs; make sure they're not "snack-shaped"!!
for example: Metynnis is perfect, but Anostomus might disappear; I'm sure you get the picture.

Thanks alot for the info guys!

I've heard one or two horror-stories about the apetite and aggression of channas.