Can rainbow sharks live with elephant nose fish?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Rainbow sharks and elephant nose fish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Rainbow sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.

Rainbow shark72–80°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Elephant nose fish73–82°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outRainbow sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.

What works

Both are fine at 73–80°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 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

	Rainbow shark	Elephant nose fish
Temperature	72–80 °F	73–82 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–7.5
Adult size	6.0 in	9.0 in
Minimum tank	55 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	One per tank	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for rainbow sharks

All rainbow shark tank mates

Better tank mates for elephant nose fish

All elephant nose fish tank mates

Questions

Can rainbow sharks live with elephant nose fish?

Yes, with care. Rainbow sharks and elephant nose fish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Rainbow sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.

What temperature suits both rainbow sharks and elephant nose fish?

73–80 °F. Rainbow sharks need 72–80 °F, elephant nose fish need 73–82 °F.

What size tank do rainbow sharks and elephant nose fish need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the rainbow shark. Add space for each extra fish.