Can pea puffers live with upside down catfish?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Pea puffers and upside down catfish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Pea puffers are aggressive, though upside down catfish are big enough to shrug most of it off.

Pea puffer74–82°F · pH 7–8

Upside down catfish72–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outPea puffers are aggressive, though upside down catfish are big enough to shrug most of it off.

What works

Both are fine at 74–79°F.
pH 7–7.5 suits both.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Pea puffer	Upside down catfish
Temperature	74–82 °F	72–79 °F
pH	7–8	6–7.5
Adult size	1.0 in	4.0 in
Minimum tank	5 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	All levels	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 3+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for pea puffers

CrayfishYes

All pea puffer tank mates

Better tank mates for upside down catfish

All upside down catfish tank mates

Questions

Can pea puffers live with upside down catfish?

Yes, with care. Pea puffers and upside down catfish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Pea puffers are aggressive, though upside down catfish are big enough to shrug most of it off.

What temperature suits both pea puffers and upside down catfish?

74–79 °F. Pea puffers need 74–82 °F, upside down catfish need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do pea puffers and upside down catfish need together?

At least 30 gal, set by the upside down catfish. Add space for each extra fish.