Tank mates for glass catfish
We checked glass catfish against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for glass catfish include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. Avoid common goldfish, oscar and chinese algae eater: they need different temperatures: Glass catfish 23–26°C (73–79°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
Glass catfish: 23–26°C (73–79°F), pH 6–7, adult size 7 cm (2.8 in), minimum tank 29 gallons (110 L). Full glass catfish care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (103)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Betta fish
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 5+ gal
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 20+ gal
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+
Glass catfish will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Common pleco
40 cm (15.7 in) · 150+ gal
Dwarf gourami
7.5 cm (3 in) · 15+ gal
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Zebra danio
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
African dwarf frog
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Amano shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Glass catfish will pick off baby amano shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Bala shark
30 cm (11.8 in) · 230+ gal · groups of 5+
Black skirt tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Cardinal tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Celestial pearl danio
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Cherry barb
5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Chili rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Denison barb
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf neon rainbowfish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Ember tetra
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Firemouth cichlid
13 cm (5.1 in) · 29+ gal
Ghost shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Glass catfish will pick off baby ghost shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Glowlight tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Harlequin rasbora
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Honey gourami
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Julii corydoras
5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kribensis
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal
Kuhli loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl gourami
11.5 cm (4.5 in) · 29+ gal
Peppered corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Pictus catfish
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 3+
Platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Pygmy corydoras
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal
Red-tail shark
12 cm (4.7 in) · 75+ gal
Rummy-nose tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 10+
Siamese algae eater
15 cm (5.9 in) · 55+ gal
Silver dollar
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Three spot gourami
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal
X-ray tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Yoyo loach
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
African butterfly fish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Glass catfish will pick off baby bamboo shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Black neon tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Black phantom tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bleeding heart tetra
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+
Bloodfin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bolivian ram
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal
Bumblebee catfish
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal
Clown killifish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Clown pleco
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Cockatoo cichlid
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal
Congo tetra
8 cm (3.1 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Diamond tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf chain loach
6 cm (2.4 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Emerald green corydoras
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Emperor tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Endler's livebearer
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Forktail blue-eye
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Gardneri killifish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 10+ gal
Giant danio
10 cm (3.9 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Golden wonder killifish
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Head and tail light tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kubotai rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 10+
Lambchop rasbora
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Lemon tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Marbled hatchetfish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Odessa barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Panda garra
8.5 cm (3.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Peacock gudgeon
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 2+
Penguin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Red rainbowfish
12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Ropefish
35 cm (13.8 in) · 75+ gal
Rosy loach
2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Rosy tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Rubber lip pleco
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal
Scarlet badis
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal
Scissortail rasbora
12 cm (4.7 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Serpae tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 10+
Sparkling gourami
3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Swordtail
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Thai micro crab
1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+
Threadfin rainbowfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Turquoise rainbowfish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Upside-down catfish
9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Vampire shrimp
10 cm (3.9 in) · 20+ gal
Glass catfish will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Zebra loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 5+
Black ruby barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Checkerboard barb
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf rasbora
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Flame tetra
3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Green neon tetra
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Keyhole cichlid
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+
Least killifish
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl danio
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Silvertip tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Thick-lipped gourami
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Caution Possible, with care (27)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller glass catfish.
- Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Tiger barb · 29+ gal
- Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like glass catfish.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller glass catfish.
- Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase glass catfish, which use the same area.
- Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- 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 23–23°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 is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller glass catfish.
- Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Molly · 29+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (6–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
- One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 2–10 vs 15–30 dGH).
- Mystery snail · 10+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (6–7 vs 7.2–8).
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller glass catfish.
- Rosy barb · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like glass catfish.
- Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Gold barb · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller glass catfish.
- Paradise fish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- 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).
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (6–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
- Severum · 55+ gal
- Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller glass catfish.
- Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase glass catfish, which use the same area.
- Tinfoil barb · 200+ gal
- Tinfoil barb may eat glass catfish, especially young or small ones.
- Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Variatus platy · 15+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Avoid Bad tank mates (19)
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Glass catfish 23–26°C (73–79°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Oscar: Oscar can eat glass catfish: 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 glass catfish.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glass catfish.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Glass catfish 23–26°C (73–79°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. Glass catfish don't belong in that setup.
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Glass catfish 23–26°C (73–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glass catfish.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glass 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. Glass catfish don't belong in that setup.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glass 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. Glass catfish don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat glass catfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Glass catfish 23–26°C (73–79°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat glass catfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glass 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. Glass catfish don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: They need very different water: pH 6–7 vs 8–9. Frontosa can eat glass 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. Glass catfish don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glass catfish.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glass catfish.
- 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. Glass catfish don't belong in that setup.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with glass catfish?
Good tank mates for glass catfish include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat glass catfish.
Can glass catfish live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller glass catfish.
Can glass catfish live with bettas?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can glass catfish live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (23–26°C (73–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can glass catfish live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (23–26°C (73–79°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.