Elephant-nose Knifefish Tank Mates

Elephant-nose Knifefish is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 13 freshwater species that pair well with an elephant-nose knifefish — plus the 197 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 8, 2026 • Full Elephant-nose Knifefish care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for an elephant-nose knifefish

  • Spotted Talking Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Weather Loach ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 25 cm · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Spotted Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Giant Glass Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Green Phantom Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 26–29 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Snowball Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 16 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–29 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Goldie Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–29 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Striped Raphael Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 20 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.
  • 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 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Galaxy Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Pearl Cichlid ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 28 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Peacock Eel ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Spotted Knifefish ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Aggressive · 45 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
With caution

Elephant-nose Knifefish tank mates that can work with care

  • Adolf's Cory ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Elephant-nose Knifefish 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)
    Elephant-nose Knifefish may bully the smaller Agassiz's Corydoras, 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)
    Your 200 L tank is below the ~378 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Angelfish ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Elephant-nose Knifefish may hunt Angelfish, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
  • Assassin Snail ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Elephant-nose Knifefish 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)
    Elephant-nose Knifefish may bully the smaller Axelrod's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Bandit Corydoras ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Elephant-nose Knifefish may bully the smaller Bandit Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Banjo Catfish ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Elephant-nose Knifefish may hunt Banjo Catfish, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.

+ 122 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with an elephant-nose knifefish

  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Size gap is too large (300 vs 35 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Elephant-nose Knifefish as food.
  • Alligator Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Elephant-nose Knifefish is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Elephant-nose Knifefish is bite-sized to a 120 cm predatory redtail catfish — it will be eaten.
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (100 vs 35 cm): Fire Eel will treat Elephant-nose Knifefish as food.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Elephant-nose Knifefish is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Elephant-nose Knifefish is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
  • Imperial Flower Loach ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · 15–22 °C (59–72 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Elephant-nose Knifefish 24–29 °C vs Imperial Flower Loach 15–22 °C).
  • Goldfish ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 30 cm · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Elephant-nose Knifefish 24–29 °C vs Goldfish 18–22 °C).

+ 189 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against an elephant-nose knifefish

Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against an elephant-nose knifefish, with the reasoning for each verdict.

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Elephant-nose Knifefish?

We compare each fish against your elephant-nose knifefish on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.

  • Angelicus Synodontis✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °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.
  • Galaxy Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °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.
  • Giant Glass Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Goldie Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–29 °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.
  • Green Phantom Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 26–29 °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.
  • Peacock Eel✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °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.
  • Pearl Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 28 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °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.
  • Snowball Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–29 °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)
    • Peaceful + 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.
  • Spotted Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °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.
  • Spotted Talking Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °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.
  • Striped Raphael Catfish✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 20 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.
  • Weather Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 25 cm · Easy care · 5–24 °C (41–75 °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.
  • Black Belt Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Clown Loach⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~400 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Cuban Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 30 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Flowerhorn Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~340 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Kissing Gourami⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Leopard Cactus Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Malawi Trout Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (5.5–7 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Elephant-nose Knifefish 1–8 vs Malawi Trout Cichlid 10–20 dGH).
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Midas Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Elephant-nose Knifefish 1–8 vs Midas Cichlid 10–20 dGH).
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~300 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Oscar⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Pearlscale Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Red Devil Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 38 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Texas Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 33 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~300 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • True Parrot Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 33 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • True Red Terror Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~570 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Yellow-spotted Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 35 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Yellowjacket Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Elephant-nose Knifefish is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Elephant-nose Knifefish is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Fire Eel⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (100 vs 35 cm): Fire Eel will treat Elephant-nose Knifefish as food.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Goldfish⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Elephant-nose Knifefish 24–29 °C vs Goldfish 18–22 °C).
  • Imperial Flower Loach⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · Hard care · 15–22 °C (59–72 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Elephant-nose Knifefish 24–29 °C vs Imperial Flower Loach 15–22 °C).
    • Different pH ranges (5.5–7 vs 7.2–8.2); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Elephant-nose Knifefish 1–8 vs Imperial Flower Loach 12–25 dGH).
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Elephant-nose Knifefish is bite-sized to a 120 cm predatory redtail catfish — it will be eaten.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Elephant-nose Knifefish is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (300 vs 35 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Elephant-nose Knifefish as food.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.

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 an elephant-nose knifefish community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 200 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 an elephant-nose knifefish

As a peaceful species, elephant-nose knifefish 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.

Elephant-nose Knifefish grows to about 35 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 18 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 24–29 °C (75–84 °F), pH 5.5–7 and 1–8 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Elephant-nose Knifefish 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 an elephant-nose knifefish live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 13 compatible freshwater species for elephant-nose knifefish. 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 an elephant-nose knifefish?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Spotted Talking Catfish, Weather Loach, Spotted Pleco. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with an elephant-nose knifefish?

Avoid Wels Catfish, Alligator Gar, Redtail Catfish and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do elephant-nose knifefish tank mates need?

Start from Elephant-nose Knifefish's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 200 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

← Back to the full Elephant-nose Knifefish care guide