Glass Catfish tank mates
A transparent schooling catfish that needs a group of eight or more to feel safe. Solo or small groups become permanent hiders with visible stress.
Common mistakeBuying three glass catfish for a busy community is how keepers invent invisible, wasting fish. They need a school of six or more and calm company; under-stocked, they hide behind the filter and fade. Start with numbers and gentle neighbours, not with a novelty trio.
Each name below opens a pair check with Glass Catfish. That check is the decision, not the list itself.
Usually safer companions
Conservative shortlist from this profile. Open a pair page before you buy.
The Glass Catfish profile lists Dwarf Gourami as both safe and a recommended pairing. Dwarf Gourami is a peaceful beginner-care species with a 60L minimum. Run the pair checker for your specific tank before stocking.
The Glass Catfish profile lists Harlequin Rasbora as both safe and a recommended pairing. Harlequin Rasbora schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
The Glass Catfish profile lists Neon Tetra as both safe and a recommended pairing. Neon Tetra schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Risky or situational
May work with more water, a mature system, or a species-only setup. Read the pair page before you experiment.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Tiger Barb is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Glass Catfish. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Fish to avoid with Glass Catfish
Predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile. Treat these as poor default mixes.
Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm and is flagged predatory. Glass Catfish at 8cm is prey-sized for it. Jack Dempsey needs at least 200L, far above the 80L minimum for Glass Catfish. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Jack Dempsey is rated aggressive and Glass Catfish is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Glass Catfish at 8cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 80L minimum for Glass Catfish. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Oscar is rated aggressive and Glass Catfish is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Tank size and groups
- Published minimum for Glass Catfish: 80L. Group minimum 6 (schooling).
- Compatibility changes when the tank is too short for turning, too little for a real school, or too warm for one species and not the other. That is why pair checks include tank context, not only temperament.
- Nearest litre hub to this minimum: 80L hub.
Easier alternatives to consider
Hardier first-tank names from the library. Still read the profile. Not a substitute for reading this one.
Plan before you buy
Start a pair check with Glass Catfish, or open a starter plan with the top safer companions in the builder.
Tank hubs: 80L
Related reading
Guides that list other fish with the same trait, so you can plan around the group rather than one row.
- Schooling & group fish →
Plan the group of 6+ before choosing tank mates.
- Peaceful community fish →
Other peaceful species to shortlist beside Glass Catfish.
Filtration & heating
A 80L minimum tank for Glass Catfish needs a filter rated for at least 320L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 23–28°C.
Similar fish (same category)
- Adolfoi cory · min 80L
- Peppered Corydoras · min 80L
- Bronze corydoras · min 100L
- Corydoras Catfish · min 60L
- Julii Corydoras · min 60L
- Panda Corydoras · min 60L
- Salt and pepper cory / dwarf cory · min 60L
- Sterba's Corydoras · min 100L
Related (care + temperament)
Glass Catfish tank mates — quick answers
- What fish can live with Glass Catfish?
- Usually safer companions on this hub include Dwarf Gourami, Harlequin Rasbora, Neon Tetra. Open each pair check before you buy — the list is a shortlist, not a guarantee.
- What tank mates should you avoid with Glass Catfish?
- Avoid Jack Dempsey, Oscar based on size, temperament, or predation risk on this profile.
- What size tank do Glass Catfish need for a community?
- 80L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload. A 98L+ tank is the more comfortable long-term footprint. Length and depth matter as much as raw litres for active or territorial fish.