Compatibility brief
Can Celebes Rainbowfish live with Otocinclus?
Caution. Check the issues below before buying.
Compatibility score
Profile confidence: low
How we decideFishori checks adult size and predation risk, behaviour, water requirements and tank needs before giving a verdict.
80L
Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 80L (larger active fish often want more length).
Assessment details
Compatible temperaments
Both Celebes Rainbowfish and Otocinclus share a peaceful temperament.
Compatible temperature range
Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.
Hardness preference mismatch
Top issueCelebes Rainbowfish prefers hard water and Otocinclus prefers soft water. One of them lives outside its comfort band long-term — pick the tank's water for the more sensitive species.
“Celebes Rainbowfish prefers hard water and Otocinclus prefers…”
Hardness preference mismatch
Next steps
Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.
- •Celebes Rainbowfish should be kept in a group of at least 6 for best health and behaviour.
- •Otocinclus should be kept in a group of at least 6 for best health and behaviour.
- Seriously Fish. Marosatherina ladigesi
Primary: species page on Sulawesi limestone-stream origin (which explains the hard alkaline water requirement) and the extended-fin display in males.
- Practical Fishkeeping. Celebes Rainbowfish Profile
Secondary: editor coverage of stocking, water chemistry, and the colour development that needs months of stable water.
- Seriously Fish. Otocinclus macrospilus (Otocinclus ‘affinis’ / trade oto stand-in)
Primary stand-in: SF profile for O. macrospilus. Shop 'O. affinis'/'otocinclus' labels are often misidentified. Verify the fish against a good key, not a single import sticker.
- FishBase. Otocinclus affinis
Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.
- Wikipedia. Otocinclus affinis
Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.
- FishBase. Otocinclus vittatus
Taxonomy, distribution, and typical max length in natural/wild contexts (cross-check to aquarium import lines).
- Wikipedia. Otocinclus
Encyclopaedia overview; use specialist aquarium sources for your stock's real temperature/pH/footprint needs.
Try this next
Build the full stocking list with Celebes Rainbowfish + Otocinclus
Plan further
Check each species’ mates list, size the glass, then verify the full stock in the builder. Methodology explains how verdicts are produced.
Individual fish vary in personality. Fishori uses conservative hobby rules. Observe any new introduction closely, feed thoughtfully, and keep a quarantine or backup plan. This is not veterinary advice.
Profile data confidence: medium. Driven by the lower-confidence profile (Celebes Rainbowfish): Typical care sources — trade names for this fish get mixed up, so verify the ID before you buy.