Dojo loach tank mates

Good matches

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The safest picks for dojo loaches are goldfish, zebra danios and paradise fish. Each match shares dojo loaches' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

Escape artist that digs in sand. Happy in cooler water than most tropicals.

Temperature: 59–77°F
pH: 6.5–8
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum tank: 55 gal
With care: 28
Avoid: 13

How each group of fish does with dojo loaches. Click through below for the reason behind every verdict.

Good tank mates

Possible, with care

Betta They only share 76–77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Koi A grown koi may treat small dojo loaches as food, especially at night.
White cloud minnow A grown dojo loach may treat small white cloud minnows as food, especially at night.
Pea puffer At 6 inches a dojo loach can swallow a small pea puffer. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Angelfish They only share 76–77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Mystery snail Large dojo loaches crack or pick at small snails. A big mystery snail has better odds than a ramshorn.
Neon tetra A grown dojo loach may treat small neon tetras as food, especially at night.
Sparkling gourami A grown dojo loach may treat small sparkling gouramis as food, especially at night.
Celestial pearl danio At 6 inches a dojo loach can swallow a small celestial pearl danio. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Rainbow shark Rainbow sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.
Red tail shark Red tail sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.
Endler's livebearer At 6 inches a dojo loach can swallow a small endler's livebearer. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Pygmy cory At 6 inches a dojo loach can swallow a small pygmy cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Blood parrot They only share 76–77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Ramshorn snail Large dojo loaches crack or pick at small snails. A big mystery snail has better odds than a ramshorn.
Black neon tetra A grown dojo loach may treat small black neon tetras as food, especially at night.
African dwarf frog African dwarf frogs eat slowly and nearly blind. Fast dojo loaches will take the food first, so target-feed them.
Nerite snail Large dojo loaches crack or pick at small snails. A big mystery snail has better odds than a ramshorn.
Glowlight tetra A grown dojo loach may treat small glowlight tetras as food, especially at night.
Pearl gourami They only share 77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Ember tetra At 6 inches a dojo loach can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Bamboo shrimp Dojo loaches will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give bamboo shrimp somewhere to hide.
Hatchetfish A grown dojo loach may treat small hatchetfish as food, especially at night.
Chili rasbora At 6 inches a dojo loach can swallow a small chili rasbora. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Peacock cichlid They only share 76–77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Cardinal tetra They only share 76–77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Clown loach They only share 77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Assassin snail Large dojo loaches crack or pick at small snails. A big mystery snail has better odds than a ramshorn.

Avoid

Axolotl Fish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.
Cherry shrimp A dojo loach is big enough to swallow adult cherry shrimp.
Ghost shrimp A dojo loach is big enough to swallow adult ghost shrimp.
Jack Dempsey Jack dempseys are aggressive and will bully peaceful dojo loaches.
Amano shrimp A dojo loach is big enough to swallow adult amano shrimp.
Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful dojo loaches.
Discus No shared temperature. Discus need 82–88°F, dojo loaches need 59–77°F.
Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 6 inches dojo loaches do.
African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful dojo loaches.
Flowerhorn No shared temperature. Flowerhorns need 80–89°F, dojo loaches need 59–77°F.
Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 6 inches dojo loaches do.
Zebra pleco No shared temperature. Zebra plecos need 79–88°F, dojo loaches need 59–77°F.
German blue ram No shared temperature. Rams need 80–86°F, dojo loaches need 59–77°F.

Planning a mixed tank? The tank mate checker tests every pair at once. Or read the dojo loach care sheet.

Questions

What are the best tank mates for dojo loaches?

Goldfish, Zebra danios, Paradise fish, Gold barbs, Fancy goldfish. They share dojo loaches' temperature and pH and leave them alone.

What fish should not live with dojo loaches?

Axolotls, Cherry shrimp, Ghost shrimp, Jack dempseys, Amano shrimp. Fish nibble at axolotl gills, and axolotls swallow small fish. Keep axolotls on their own.

How is compatibility checked?

Each pair is compared on temperature and pH overlap, adult size and mouth size, fin nipping, temperament and territory. The worst result decides the verdict.