Black Doras Catfish Tank Mates

Black Doras Catfish is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 28 freshwater species that pair well with a black doras catfish — plus the 208 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 8, 2026 • Full Black Doras Catfish care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a black doras catfish

  • Spotted Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Angelicus Synodontis ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Galaxy Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Oscar ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Aggressive · 35 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Yellow-spotted Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 35 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Red Devil Cichlid ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Aggressive · 38 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Royal Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 43 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Bichir ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Golden Sailfin Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Common Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 45 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Orinoco Sailfin Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Sailfin Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 50 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Walking Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Aggressive · 50 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Nile Bichir ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 70 cm · 25–28 °C (77–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Fire Eel ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Gold Nugget Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 28 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Mango Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 28 cm · 25–32 °C (77–90 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Leopard Cactus Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Sunshine Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Black Belt Cichlid ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Aggressive · 35 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Elephant-nose Knifefish ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Peaceful · 35 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Midas Cichlid ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Aggressive · 35 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Yellowjacket Cichlid ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Aggressive · 35 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Black Ghost Knifefish ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
With caution

Black Doras Catfish tank mates that can work with care

  • Adolf's Cory ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Black Doras Catfish may bully the smaller Adolf's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Agassiz's Corydoras ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Black Doras Catfish may bully the smaller Agassiz's Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Alligator Gar ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Alligator Gar may bully the smaller Black Doras Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Watch for Black Doras Catfish picking off any altifrons geophagus small enough to fit in its mouth.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Adult Amano Shrimp might survive with Black Doras Catfish, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
  • Assassin Snail ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Black Doras Catfish may bully the smaller Assassin Snail, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Axelrod's Cory ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Black Doras Catfish may bully the smaller Axelrod's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Bamboo Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Adult Bamboo Shrimp might survive with Black Doras Catfish, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.

+ 96 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a black doras catfish

  • Blood Parrot Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Black Doras Catfish (60 cm) is big enough to swallow the 20 cm Blood Parrot Cichlid whole.
  • Discus ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Peaceful · 20 cm · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
    Size gap is too large (60 vs 20 cm): Black Doras Catfish will treat Discus as food.
  • Electric Blue Hap ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Electric Blue Hap is bite-sized to a 60 cm black doras catfish — it will be eaten.
  • Green Severum ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
    Black Doras Catfish (60 cm) is big enough to swallow the 20 cm Green Severum whole.
  • Platinum Acara ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (60 vs 20 cm): Black Doras Catfish will treat Platinum Acara as food.
  • Tiger Loach ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Black Doras Catfish (60 cm) is big enough to swallow the 20 cm Tiger Loach whole.
  • Fire Blue Empress Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 18 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Black Doras Catfish (60 cm) is big enough to swallow the 18 cm Fire Blue Empress Cichlid whole.
  • Guyana Flag Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 18 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Black Doras Catfish (60 cm) is big enough to swallow the 18 cm Guyana Flag Cichlid whole.

+ 200 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a black doras catfish

Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a black doras catfish, with the reasoning for each verdict.

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Black Doras Catfish?

We compare each fish against your black doras catfish on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.

  • Bichir✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Black Belt Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Black Ghost Knifefish✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Common Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 45 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Elephant-nose Knifefish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Fahaka Puffer✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Fire Eel✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Gold Zebra Catfish✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 55 cm · Hard care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Golden Sailfin Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Jaguar Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 55 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Leopard Cactus Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Midas Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Nile Bichir✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 70 cm · Medium care · 25–28 °C (77–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Orinoco Sailfin Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Oscar✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Red Devil Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 38 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Royal Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 43 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Sailfin Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 50 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Spotted Knifefish✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Spotted Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Sunshine Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Hard care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Walking Catfish✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 50 cm · Medium care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Yellow-spotted Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 35 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Yellowjacket Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Butter Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~680 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Clown Knifefish⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Giant Gourami⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 70 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Imperial Flower Loach⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · Hard care · 15–22 °C (59–72 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Koi⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Lima Shovelnose Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · Hard care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Lyre Tail Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 63 cm · Hard care · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~1500 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Malawi Trout Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Black Doras Catfish 6–7.5 vs Malawi Trout Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Mbu Puffer⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 67 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~757 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Ocellaris Peacock Bass⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 70 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Spotted Gar⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Spotted Shovelnose Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 55 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~570 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Tatauaia Payara⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 59 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~2000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Texas Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 33 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Black Doras Catfish may hunt Texas Cichlid, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
  • True Red Terror Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~570 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Wolf Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Your 500 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Blood Parrot Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Black Doras Catfish (60 cm) is big enough to swallow the 20 cm Blood Parrot Cichlid whole.
  • Discus⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (60 vs 20 cm): Black Doras Catfish will treat Discus as food.
    • Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Electric Blue Hap⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Electric Blue Hap is bite-sized to a 60 cm black doras catfish — it will be eaten.
    • Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.8–8.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Fire Blue Empress Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 18 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Black Doras Catfish (60 cm) is big enough to swallow the 18 cm Fire Blue Empress Cichlid whole.
  • Green Severum⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
    • Black Doras Catfish (60 cm) is big enough to swallow the 20 cm Green Severum whole.
  • Guyana Flag Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 18 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Black Doras Catfish (60 cm) is big enough to swallow the 18 cm Guyana Flag Cichlid whole.
  • Platinum Acara⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (60 vs 20 cm): Black Doras Catfish will treat Platinum Acara as food.
  • Tiger Loach⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Black Doras Catfish (60 cm) is big enough to swallow the 20 cm Tiger Loach whole.

Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.

Setting up a black doras catfish community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 500 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.

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How to choose

How to choose the right tank mates for a black doras catfish

As a peaceful species, black doras catfish is easily bullied — favour other calm, non-nippy fish and steer clear of boisterous or aggressive tank mates. It mostly occupies the bottom of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.

Black Doras Catfish grows to about 60 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 30 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 22–28 °C (72–82 °F), pH 6–7.5 and 2–12 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Black Doras Catfish doesn't need its own kind to feel secure; think twice before keeping more than one if it is territorial. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can a black doras catfish live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 28 compatible freshwater species for black doras catfish. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.

What is the best tank mate for a black doras catfish?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Spotted Pleco, Angelicus Synodontis, Galaxy Pleco. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with a black doras catfish?

Avoid Blood Parrot Cichlid, Discus, Electric Blue Hap and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do black doras catfish tank mates need?

Start from Black Doras Catfish's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 500 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

← Back to the full Black Doras Catfish care guide