Tank mates for bumblebee catfish

We checked bumblebee catfish against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for bumblebee catfish include betta fish, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami, bronze corydoras and zebra danio. Avoid cherry shrimp, neon tetra and oscar: bumblebee catfish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.

Bumblebee catfish: 22–26°C (72–79°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 7.5 cm (3 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full bumblebee catfish care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (61)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (52)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
    • Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
  • Common goldfish · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Common pleco · 150+ gal
    • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
  • Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat panda corydoras, especially young or small ones.
  • Tiger barb · 29+ gal
    • Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like bumblebee catfish.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bumblebee catfish.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
  • Cardinal tetra · 15+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat cardinal tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Clown loach · 180+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
  • Dojo loach · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
    • Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
  • Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Glowlight tetra · 15+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat glowlight tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Harlequin rasbora · 15+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat harlequin rasboras, especially young or small ones.
  • Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
  • Otocinclus · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat otocinclus, especially young or small ones.
  • Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
    • Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
  • Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
    • Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
  • Rosy barb · 29+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat white cloud mountain minnows, especially young or small ones.
  • X-ray tetra · 15+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat x-ray tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
    • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Black ghost knifefish · 125+ gal
    • Black ghost knifefish may eat bumblebee catfish, especially young or small ones.
  • Black neon tetra · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat black neon tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Black phantom tetra · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat black phantom tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
    • Bolivian ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
  • Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
    • Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like bumblebee catfish.
  • Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Bumblebee catfish may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
  • Gold barb · 29+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Head and tail light tetra · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat head and tail light tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
    • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bumblebee catfish.
  • Lemon tetra · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat lemon tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Paradise fish · 20+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
  • Rosy tetra · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat rosy tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
    • Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
  • Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat serpae tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Severum · 55+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bumblebee catfish.
  • Sparkling gourami · 10+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat sparkling gouramis, especially young or small ones.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat threadfin rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
  • Tinfoil barb · 200+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may eat bumblebee catfish, especially young or small ones.
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
    • Zebra pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
  • Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
  • Silvertip tetra · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat silvertip tetras, especially young or small ones.

Avoid Bad tank mates (36)

  • Cherry shrimp: Bumblebee catfish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Neon tetra: Bumblebee catfish can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat bumblebee catfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • African dwarf frog: Bumblebee catfish can eat African dwarf frogs.
  • Celestial pearl danio: Bumblebee catfish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Chili rasbora: Bumblebee catfish can eat chili rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bumblebee catfish.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bumblebee catfish.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Bumblebee catfish 22–26°C (72–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bumblebee catfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Ember tetra: Bumblebee catfish can eat ember tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Bumblebee catfish 22–26°C (72–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bumblebee catfish.
  • Pea puffer: Bumblebee catfish can eat pea puffers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bumblebee catfish. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
  • Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bumblebee catfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Pygmy corydoras: Bumblebee catfish can eat pygmy corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bumblebee catfish. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bumblebee catfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat bumblebee catfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Clown killifish: Bumblebee catfish can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Crystal red shrimp: Bumblebee catfish eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bumblebee catfish. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bumblebee catfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Endler's livebearer: Bumblebee catfish can eat Endler's livebearers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa can eat bumblebee catfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bumblebee catfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bumblebee catfish.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bumblebee catfish.
  • Kubotai rasbora: Bumblebee catfish can eat kubotai rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Lambchop rasbora: Bumblebee catfish can eat lambchop rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Marbled hatchetfish: Bumblebee catfish can eat marbled hatchetfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rosy loach: Bumblebee catfish can eat rosy loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Scarlet badis: Bumblebee catfish can eat scarlet badis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bumblebee catfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Dwarf rasbora: Bumblebee catfish can eat dwarf rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Flame tetra: Bumblebee catfish can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glowlight danio: Bumblebee catfish can eat glowlight danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Green neon tetra: Bumblebee catfish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Least killifish: Bumblebee catfish can eat least killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with bumblebee catfish?

Good tank mates for bumblebee catfish include betta fish, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami, bronze corydoras and zebra danio. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat bumblebee catfish.

Can bumblebee catfish live with angelfish?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can bumblebee catfish live with bettas?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can bumblebee catfish live with bristlenose plecos?

Sometimes, with care. Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.

Can bumblebee catfish live with bronze corydoras?

Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.