Can flowerhorns live with upside down catfish?
Verdict
No
No. Flowerhorns and upside down catfish should not share a tank. No shared temperature. Flowerhorns need 80–89°F, upside down catfish need 72–79°F.
What to watch
- Deal breakerNo shared temperature. Flowerhorns need 80–89°F, upside down catfish need 72–79°F.
- Deal breakerAn adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 4 inches upside down catfish do.
- Deal breakerFlowerhorns are aggressive and will bully peaceful upside down catfish.
What works
- pH 7–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: flowerhorns the mid, upside down catfish the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Flowerhorn | Upside down catfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 80–89 °F | 72–79 °F |
| pH | 7–8 | 6–7.5 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 4.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 30 gal |
| Temperament | Aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle | Bottom |
| Group | One per tank | Groups of 3+ |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
Better tank mates for upside down catfish
All upside down catfish tank mates
Questions
Can flowerhorns live with upside down catfish?
No. Flowerhorns and upside down catfish should not share a tank. No shared temperature. Flowerhorns need 80–89°F, upside down catfish need 72–79°F.
What temperature suits both flowerhorns and upside down catfish?
None. Flowerhorns need 80–89 °F and upside down catfish need 72–79 °F, so the ranges do not meet.
What size tank do flowerhorns and upside down catfish need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the flowerhorn. Add space for each extra fish.