Tank mates for otocinclus

We checked otocinclus against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for otocinclus include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. Avoid angelfish, common goldfish and oscar: angelfish can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Otocinclus: 21–26°C (70–79°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 4 cm (1.6 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full otocinclus care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (102)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (20)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
    • 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 otocinclus.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller otocinclus.
  • 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).
    • Clown loach grows much larger than otocinclus and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Dojo loach · 75+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller otocinclus.
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Kribensis is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller otocinclus.
  • Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
    • Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller otocinclus.
  • Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
    • Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller otocinclus.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller otocinclus.
  • White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 21–22°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 otocinclus.
  • Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat otocinclus, especially young or small ones.
  • Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
    • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller otocinclus.
    • Kissing gourami grows much larger than otocinclus and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
  • Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like otocinclus.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
  • Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).

Avoid Bad tank mates (27)

  • Angelfish: Angelfish can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Common goldfish: Common goldfish can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bala shark: Bala shark can eat otocinclus: 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 otocinclus.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful otocinclus.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Otocinclus 21–26°C (70–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • 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. Otocinclus don't belong in that setup.
  • German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Otocinclus 21–26°C (70–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful otocinclus.
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful otocinclus. 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. Otocinclus don't belong in that setup.
  • Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful otocinclus. 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. Otocinclus don't belong in that setup.
  • Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • African butterfly fish: African butterfly fish can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat otocinclus: 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 otocinclus. 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. Otocinclus don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa can eat otocinclus: 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. Otocinclus don't belong in that setup.
  • Golden wonder killifish: Golden wonder killifish can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Green terror: Green terror can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful otocinclus.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful otocinclus.
  • Ropefish: Ropefish can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Severum: Severum can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • 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. Otocinclus don't belong in that setup.
  • Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with otocinclus?

Good tank mates for otocinclus include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat otocinclus.

Can otocinclus live with angelfish?

No. Angelfish can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller otocinclus.

Can otocinclus live with bettas?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can otocinclus live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can otocinclus live with bronze corydoras?

Yes. They share similar water needs (21–26°C (70–79°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.