Otocinclus Tank Mates
Short answer: the best otocinclus tank mates are Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora. Otocinclus need 70–79 °F (21–26 °C), pH 5.5–7.5 and at least 10 gallons. Keep them in a group of 6 or more.
Otocinclus care at a glance
| Adult size | 1.6 in (4 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 10 US gallons |
| Temperature | 70–79 °F (21–26 °C) |
| pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Bottom |
| Group size | Groups of 6+ |
| Care level | Moderate |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (50)
- Cherry shrimp
- Betta fish
- Dwarf gourami
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Tiger barb
- Nerite snail
- Amano shrimp
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Endler's livebearer
- Mystery snail
- Panda cory
- Black skirt tetra
- Bronze cory
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- Glowlight tetra
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Rummy nose tetra
- Serpae tetra
- Zebra danio
- Swordtail
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Clown loach
- Pygmy cory
- Sparkling gourami
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Forktail blue-eye
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- Peppered cory
- Sterbai cory
- X-ray tetra
- Buenos Aires tetra
- Congo tetra
- Gold barb
- Odessa barb
- Rosy barb
- Upside-down catfish
- Bolivian ram
⚠️ Possible with caution (10)
- Angelfish — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller otocinclus (4 cm), especially at night.
- Kribensis — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller otocinclus (4 cm), especially at night.
- Pearl gourami — An adult pearl gourami (up to 12 cm) may try to eat smaller otocinclus (4 cm), especially at night.
- Three spot gourami — An adult three spot gourami (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller otocinclus (4 cm), especially at night.
- Electric yellow cichlid — pH preferences don't overlap (Otocinclus 5.5–7.5, Electric yellow cichlid 7.7–8.6). Captive-bred fish often adapt, but one of them will be outside its comfort zone.
- Rainbow shark — Rainbow shark is a much larger territorial fish and may bully otocinclus.
- Red tail shark — Red tail shark is a much larger territorial fish and may bully otocinclus.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Cockatoo dwarf cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully otocinclus.
- Firemouth cichlid — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller otocinclus (4 cm), especially at night.
- Chinese algae eater — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully otocinclus.
❌ Not recommended (11)
- Fancy goldfish — An adult fancy goldfish (up to 20 cm) is big enough to eat otocinclus (4 cm).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat otocinclus (4 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful otocinclus.
- German blue ram — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Otocinclus 21–26 °C (70–79 °F).
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Otocinclus 21–26 °C (70–79 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Discus — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Otocinclus 21–26 °C (70–79 °F).
- Paradise fish — Paradise fish is aggressive and will bully peaceful otocinclus.
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful otocinclus.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Otocinclus 21–26 °C (70–79 °F).
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat otocinclus (4 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat otocinclus (4 cm).
How many otocinclus per tank?
10 gal 20 gal 29 gal 40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with otocinclus?
Good matches include Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora. They share a temperature range with otocinclus (70–79 °F (21–26 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with otocinclus?
Avoid Fancy goldfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, German blue ram, White cloud mountain minnow, Discus.
What size tank do otocinclus need?
We recommend at least 10 US gallons for a group of 6 otocinclus, more if you add tank mates.
Can otocinclus live alone?
No. Otocinclus are social and should be kept in groups of at least 6.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.