Glass catfish tank mates

Good matches

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The safest picks for glass catfish are bettas, guppies and kuhli loaches. Each match shares glass catfish' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

Shy schooler that hides when kept in small numbers.

Temperature: 75–80°F
pH: 6.5–7.5
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum tank: 30 gal
With care: 16
Avoid: 14

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

Good tank mates

Possible, with care

Pea puffer Pea puffers are aggressive, though glass catfish are big enough to shrug most of it off.
Cherry shrimp Glass catfish will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give cherry shrimp somewhere to hide.
Amano shrimp Glass catfish will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give amano shrimp somewhere to hide.
Bamboo shrimp Glass catfish will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give bamboo shrimp somewhere to hide.
African dwarf frog African dwarf frogs eat slowly and nearly blind. Fast glass catfish will take the food first, so target-feed them.
Ghost shrimp Glass catfish will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give ghost shrimp somewhere to hide.
Common pleco Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for glass catfish.
Hillstream loach They only share 75°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Bala shark A grown bala shark may treat small glass catfish as food, especially at night.
Molly Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.5.
Zebra pleco They only share 79–80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Electric yellow cichlid Different water: glass catfish want pH 6.5–7.5, yellow labs want pH 7.8–8.6.
Tinfoil barb A grown tinfoil barb may treat small glass catfish as food, especially at night.
German blue ram They only share 80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Gold barb They only share 75°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Peacock cichlid Different water: glass catfish want pH 6.5–7.5, peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.

Avoid

Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); glass catfish need 75–80°F. No temperature suits both.
Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); glass catfish need 75–80°F. No temperature suits both.
Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful glass catfish.
Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches glass catfish do.
Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches glass catfish do.
Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches glass catfish do.
African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful glass catfish.
Koi Koi are coldwater animals (59–77°F); glass catfish need 75–80°F. They overlap only at 75–77°F, the edge of both ranges.
Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches glass catfish do.
Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches glass catfish do.
Fancy goldfish Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); glass catfish need 75–80°F. No temperature suits both.
Discus No shared temperature. Discus need 82–88°F, glass catfish need 75–80°F.
White cloud minnow White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); glass catfish need 75–80°F. No temperature suits both.
Flowerhorn An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches glass catfish do.

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

Questions

What are the best tank mates for glass catfish?

Bettas, Guppies, Kuhli loaches, Corydoras, Angelfish. They share glass catfish' temperature and pH and leave them alone.

What fish should not live with glass catfish?

Axolotls, Goldfish, Convict cichlids, Oscars, Bichirs. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); glass catfish need 75–80°F. No temperature suits both.

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.