Giant Glass Catfish Tank Mates

Giant Glass Catfish is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 201 freshwater species that pair well with a giant glass catfish — plus the 6 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

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

The best tank mates for a giant glass catfish

  • Ember Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Neon Green Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Ramshorn Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 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.
  • Dawn Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 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.
  • Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Assassin Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Endler's Livebearer ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Glowlight Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Gold Ring Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Neon Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Trinidad Guppy ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Pygmy Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Glowlight Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Blue Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Emperor Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 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.
  • Flame Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Glowlight Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 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.
  • Golden Dwarf Barb ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Phoenix Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Red Phantom Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Rosy Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
With caution

Giant Glass Catfish tank mates that can work with care

  • Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Different pH ranges (6.5–7.5 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Alligator Gar ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Expect Alligator Gar to harass Giant Glass Catfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Altifrons Geophagus is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Giant Glass Catfish — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
  • Angelfish ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Angelfish and Giant Glass Catfish are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add giant glass catfish in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Angelicus Synodontis ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Angelicus Synodontis is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Giant Glass Catfish — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
  • Arrowhead Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 12 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Your 120 L tank is below the ~132 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Auratus Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Aggressive · 11 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Giant Glass Catfish 6.5–7.5 vs Auratus Cichlid 7.6–8.8) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Bamboo Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Giant Glass Catfish may eat Bamboo Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.

+ 125 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a giant glass catfish

  • Discus ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Peaceful · 20 cm · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Giant Glass Catfish 22–27 °C vs Discus 28–31 °C).
  • Amano Shrimp ⛔ Avoid
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Giant Glass Catfish will hunt and eat Amano Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
  • Ghost Shrimp ⛔ Avoid
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Giant Glass Catfish will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
  • Cherry Shrimp ⛔ Avoid
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Giant Glass Catfish will hunt and eat Cherry Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
  • Tiger Shrimp ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    Giant Glass Catfish will hunt and eat Tiger Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
  • Crystal Red Shrimp ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
    Giant Glass Catfish will hunt and eat Crystal Red Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
Interactive tool

Check any fish against a giant glass catfish

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

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Giant Glass Catfish?

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

  • Banded Gourami✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Banjo Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Bearded Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blue Gourami✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 13 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Boesemani Rainbowfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Boesemani Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bristlenose Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Clown Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Cupid Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °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 middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Giant Betta✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Giant Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Golden Vampire Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 11 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 26–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Marbled Hoplo✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 14 cm · Easy 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.
  • Medusa Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Moonlight Gourami✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Murray River Rainbowfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Murray River Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Pearl Gourami✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Polka-dot Loach✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 13 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Rubber Lip Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Spotted Rubbernose Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Spotted Talking Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Striped Eel Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Swordtail✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • T-bar Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Tiger Betta✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 11 cm · Hard care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °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 middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Angelfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Angelfish and Giant Glass Catfish are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add giant glass catfish in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Blue Flash Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Expect Blue Flash Cichlid to harass Giant Glass Catfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Bumblebee Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Giant Glass Catfish 6.5–7.5 vs Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Bumblebee Cichlid and Giant Glass Catfish are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add giant glass catfish in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Clown Barb⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Expect Clown Barb to harass Giant Glass Catfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~132 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Clown Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Denison Barb⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Denison Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Dolphin Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Expect Dolphin Cichlid to harass Giant Glass Catfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~208 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Electric Blue Acara⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 16 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Expect Electric Blue Acara to harass Giant Glass Catfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Emperor Peacock Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Giant Glass Catfish 6.5–7.5 vs Emperor Peacock Cichlid 7.6–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Emperor Peacock Cichlid and Giant Glass Catfish are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add giant glass catfish in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Eureka Red Peacock Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (6.5–7.5 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Expect Eureka Red Peacock Cichlid to harass Giant Glass Catfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Firemouth Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–29 °C (72–84 °F)
    • Firemouth Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Giant Glass Catfish — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Gold Zebra Loach⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 25–29 °C (77–84 °F)
    • Gold Zebra Loach and Giant Glass Catfish are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add giant glass catfish in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~130 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Green Phantom Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    • Green Phantom Pleco and Giant Glass Catfish are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add giant glass catfish in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Jewel Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Expect Jewel Cichlid to harass Giant Glass Catfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Panama Convict Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Expect Panama Convict Cichlid to harass Giant Glass Catfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Snowball Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Yoyo Loach⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Expect Yoyo Loach to harass Giant Glass Catfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Amano Shrimp⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Giant Glass Catfish will hunt and eat Amano Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
  • Cherry Shrimp⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Giant Glass Catfish will hunt and eat Cherry Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
    • Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Crystal Red Shrimp⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
    • Giant Glass Catfish will hunt and eat Crystal Red Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
    • Keep Crystal Red Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Discus⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Giant Glass Catfish 22–27 °C vs Discus 28–31 °C).
    • Your 120 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Ghost Shrimp⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Giant Glass Catfish will hunt and eat Ghost Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tiger Shrimp⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Hard care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • Giant Glass Catfish will hunt and eat Tiger Shrimp — keep shrimp only with small, peaceful, non-predatory fish.
    • Keep Tiger Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.

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 giant glass catfish community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 120 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 giant glass catfish

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

Giant Glass Catfish grows to about 15 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 8 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 22–27 °C (72–81 °F), pH 6.5–7.5 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.

Giant Glass Catfish is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 5+ of its own kind first, then build compatible tank mates around them. 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 giant glass catfish live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 201 compatible freshwater species for giant glass 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 giant glass catfish?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Ember Tetra, Neon Green Rasbora, Ramshorn Snail. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with a giant glass catfish?

Avoid Discus, Amano Shrimp, Ghost Shrimp and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do giant glass catfish tank mates need?

Start from Giant Glass Catfish's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 120 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

← Back to the full Giant Glass Catfish care guide