Skip to main content
Compatibility

Compatibility brief

Can Guppy live with Twig / whiptail catfish?

VerdictCAUTION

Caution. Check the issues below before buying.

Guppy + Twig / whiptail catfish: Narrow pH overlap. These fish can share water but their ideal pH ranges overlap only slightly. Aim to keep pH stable in the shared range. Outcomes still depend on your tank shape, maintenance routine, and individual fish.

Compatibility score

72/100

Profile confidence: low

Order of checkstank volume vs adults → predation mouth gap → temperament / fin nipping → shared water windows.

Min tank

150L

Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 150L (larger active fish often want more length).

Temperature
Range in °C2428°C shared
GuppyTwig / whiptail catfishShared window
pH
Range6.87.2 shared
GuppyTwig / whiptail catfishShared window

Assessment details

  1. Compatible temperaments

    Both Guppy and Twig / whiptail catfish share a peaceful temperament.

  2. Compatible temperature range

    Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.

  3. Narrow pH overlap

    Top issue

    These fish can share water but their ideal pH ranges overlap only slightly. Aim to keep pH stable in the shared range.

These fish can share water but their ideal pH ranges overlap…

Narrow pH overlap
Sources from both profiles
Only URLs that exist on the species records are shown. We do not fabricate citations.
  • Seriously Fish. Poecilia reticulata

    Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).

  • FishBase. Poecilia reticulata

    Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.

  • Wikipedia. Poecilia reticulata

    Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.

  • Wikipedia. Guppy

    Encyclopaedia overview; use specialist aquarium sources for your stock's real temperature/pH/footprint needs.

  • LiveAquaria. Farlowella (twig / whiptail) catfish

    Primary: retailer care page specifically titled Farlowella acus: tank size, planted tank use, and feeding when algae is scarce. Trade whiptails are often mixed Farlowella/Sturisoma; confirm snout/head profile from photos, not a single common name.

  • Planet Catfish. Farlowella acus (Cat-eLog species sheet)

    Primary: hobby data sheet: identification, long-snout care, and typical failure modes (outcompeted, wrong substrate) for this loricariid type.

  • FishBase. Farlowella acus

    Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.

Try this next

Build the full stocking list with Guppy + Twig / whiptail catfish

Plan further

Try both species in the full-stock tank check, or open either fish profile for mates lists. 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 (Twig / whiptail catfish): Based on typical aquarium care sources; trade names can be ambiguous, so details may vary between setups.

Related pair checks

Other tank mates for Guppy

Instead of Twig / whiptail catfish, consider

These are among Guppy's safer tank mates on file — check each pair individually.