Tank mates for ropefish

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

Good tank mates for ropefish include nerite snail, dwarf gourami, bronze corydoras, angelfish, tiger barb and oscar. Avoid cherry shrimp, common goldfish and fancy goldfish: ropefish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.

Ropefish: 24–28°C (75–82°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 35 cm (13.8 in), minimum tank 75 gallons (284 L). Full ropefish care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (41)

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

Caution Possible, with care (47)

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

  • Betta fish · 5+ gal
    • Ropefish may eat bettas, especially young or small ones.
  • Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
    • Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • Common pleco · 150+ gal
    • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Ropefish hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Black skirt tetra · 20+ gal
    • Ropefish may eat black skirt tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Denison barb · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Discus · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 28–28°C).
  • Dwarf neon rainbowfish · 20+ gal
    • Ropefish may eat dwarf neon rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
  • Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
    • Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • German blue ram · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • Ropefish may eat German blue rams, especially young or small ones.
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Ropefish hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Ropefish may eat hillstream loaches, especially young or small ones.
  • Julii corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Ropefish may eat julii corydoras, especially young or small ones.
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Ropefish may eat peppered corydoras, especially young or small ones.
  • Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Platy · 15+ gal
    • Ropefish may eat platies, especially young or small ones.
  • Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
    • Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
    • Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • Rosy barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Sterbai corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Ropefish may eat sterbai corydoras, especially young or small ones.
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Ropefish hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
    • Ropefish may eat bleeding heart tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
    • Bolivian ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
    • Ropefish may eat diamond tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
    • Ropefish may eat dwarf chain loaches, especially young or small ones.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Ropefish may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
  • Gardneri killifish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Ropefish may eat gardneri killifish, especially young or small ones.
  • Giant danio · 55+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Gold barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Odessa barb · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Ropefish may eat odessa barbs, especially young or small ones.
  • Panda garra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Paradise fish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Peacock gudgeon · 15+ gal
    • Ropefish may eat peacock gudgeons, especially young or small ones.
  • Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • Scissortail rasbora · 55+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Ropefish may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Ropefish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Zebra pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
  • Black ruby barb · 20+ gal
    • Ropefish may eat black ruby barbs, especially young or small ones.
  • Pearl danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Ropefish may eat pearl danios, especially young or small ones.
  • Variatus platy · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Ropefish may eat variatus platies, especially young or small ones.

Avoid Bad tank mates (61)

  • Cherry shrimp: Ropefish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Ropefish 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Ropefish 24–28°C (75–82°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Guppy: Ropefish can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Neon tetra: Ropefish can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Panda corydoras: Ropefish can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Zebra danio: Ropefish can eat zebra danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • African dwarf frog: Ropefish can eat African dwarf frogs.
  • Cardinal tetra: Ropefish can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Celestial pearl danio: Ropefish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Cherry barb: Ropefish can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Chili rasbora: Ropefish can eat chili rasboras: 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 ropefish.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful ropefish.
  • Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Ropefish 24–28°C (75–82°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • 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. Ropefish don't belong in that setup.
  • Ember tetra: Ropefish can eat ember tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glowlight tetra: Ropefish can eat glowlight tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Harlequin rasbora: Ropefish can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Honey gourami: Ropefish can eat honey gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful ropefish.
  • Otocinclus: Ropefish can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Pea puffer: Ropefish can eat pea puffers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful ropefish. 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. Ropefish don't belong in that setup.
  • Pygmy corydoras: Ropefish can eat pygmy corydoras: 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 ropefish. 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. Ropefish don't belong in that setup.
  • Rummy-nose tetra: Ropefish can eat rummy-nose tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Ropefish 24–28°C (75–82°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F). Ropefish can eat white cloud mountain minnows: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • X-ray tetra: Ropefish can eat x-ray tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black neon tetra: Ropefish can eat black neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black phantom tetra: Ropefish can eat black phantom tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bloodfin tetra: Ropefish can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Clown killifish: Ropefish can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Crystal red shrimp: Ropefish eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful ropefish. 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. Ropefish don't belong in that setup.
  • Emperor tetra: Ropefish can eat emperor tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Endler's livebearer: Ropefish can eat Endler's livebearers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Forktail blue-eye: Ropefish can eat forktail blue-eyes: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Frontosa: 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. Ropefish don't belong in that setup.
  • Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful ropefish.
  • Head and tail light tetra: Ropefish can eat head and tail light tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful ropefish.
  • Kubotai rasbora: Ropefish can eat kubotai rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Lambchop rasbora: Ropefish can eat lambchop rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Lemon tetra: Ropefish can eat lemon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Marbled hatchetfish: Ropefish can eat marbled hatchetfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Penguin tetra: Ropefish can eat penguin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rosy loach: Ropefish can eat rosy loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rosy tetra: Ropefish can eat rosy tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Scarlet badis: Ropefish can eat scarlet badis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Serpae tetra: Ropefish can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Shell dweller cichlid: Ropefish can eat shell dweller cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. 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. Ropefish don't belong in that setup.
  • Sparkling gourami: Ropefish can eat sparkling gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Threadfin rainbowfish: Ropefish can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Checkerboard barb: Ropefish can eat checkerboard barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Dwarf rasbora: Ropefish can eat dwarf rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Flame tetra: Ropefish can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glowlight danio: Ropefish can eat glowlight danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Green neon tetra: Ropefish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Least killifish: Ropefish can eat least killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Silvertip tetra: Ropefish can eat silvertip tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with ropefish?

Good tank mates for ropefish include nerite snail, dwarf gourami, bronze corydoras, angelfish, tiger barb and oscar. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat ropefish.

Can ropefish live with angelfish?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–28°C (75–82°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can ropefish live with bettas?

Sometimes, with care. Ropefish may eat bettas, especially young or small ones.

Can ropefish live with bristlenose plecos?

Sometimes, with care. Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.

Can ropefish live with bronze corydoras?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°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.