Panda Loach Tank Mates

Panda Loach is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 106 freshwater species that pair well with a panda loach — plus the 146 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 7, 2026 • Full Panda Loach care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a panda loach

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

Panda Loach tank mates that can work with care

  • African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Amazon Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Arrowhead Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 12 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Panda Loach is small enough to tempt Arrowhead Puffer; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
  • Auratus Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Aggressive · 11 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Auratus Cichlid may hunt Panda Loach, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
  • Banded Gourami ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Panda Loach is small enough to tempt Banded Gourami; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
  • Bandit Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Panda Loach 7.2–8.2 vs Bandit Cichlid 6–7) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Bearded Corydoras ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Black Darter Tetra ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 4 cm · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Panda Loach 7.2–8.2 vs Black Darter Tetra 3.5–6.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.

+ 80 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a panda loach

  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Panda Loach is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
  • Alligator Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Panda Loach 18–23 °C vs Alligator Gar 24–28 °C).
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Panda Loach 18–23 °C vs Redtail Catfish 24–27 °C).
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Panda Loach 18–23 °C vs Fire Eel 24–28 °C).
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Panda Loach 18–23 °C vs Clown Knifefish 24–28 °C).
  • Koi ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    Panda Loach is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Spotted Gar (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 6 cm Panda Loach whole.
  • Wolf Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Panda Loach 18–23 °C vs Wolf Cichlid 24–30 °C).

+ 138 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a panda loach

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

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Panda Loach?

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

  • Adolf's Cory✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium 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.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Agassiz's Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–23 °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.
    • Keep Agassiz's Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Black Skirt Tetra✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–23 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Black Skirt Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blackline Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–23 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Blackline Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bloodfin Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5.5 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 18–23 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Bloodfin Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Butterfly Hillstream Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 18–23 °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.
  • Corydoras Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–23 °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.
    • Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Desert Goby✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 18–23 °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.
  • Diamond Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 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.
    • Keep Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Duplicareus Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–23 °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.
    • Keep Duplicareus Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Elegant Cory✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 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.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Elegant Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • False Julii Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–23 °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.
    • Keep False Julii Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Glass Bloodfin Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 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.
    • Keep Glass Bloodfin Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • GloFish Tetra✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–23 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep GloFish Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Guppy✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–23 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Hillstream Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–23 °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.
  • Narcissus II Cory✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium 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.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Narcissus II Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–23 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Odessa Barb✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–23 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Odessa Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Pearl Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Pearl Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Platy✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Slate Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–23 °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.
    • Keep Slate Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Smaragd Betta✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–23 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Spotfin Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–23 °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.
    • Keep Spotfin Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • African Butterfly Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Amazon Puffer⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Amazon Puffer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Black Ruby Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bleeding Heart Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bleeding Heart Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Buenos Aires Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Buenos Aires Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Five-banded Barb⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Panda Loach 7.2–8.2 vs Five-banded Barb 5.5–7) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Keep Five-banded Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Half-striped Penguin Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Panda Loach 7.2–8.2 vs Half-striped Penguin Tetra 5.5–7) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Keep Half-striped Penguin Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Harlequin Rasbora⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.2–8.2 vs 5.5–7); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Melon Barb⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Melon Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Morse Code Corydoras⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Morse Code Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rounded Filament Barb⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Rounded Filament Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rummy-nose Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.2–8.2 vs 5.5–7); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Keep Rummy-nose Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotfin Betta⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.2–8.2 vs 4–6.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Panda Loach 8–15 vs Spotfin Betta 0–5 dGH).
  • Three-striped Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.2–8.2 vs 5.5–7); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Tiger Barb⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~95 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Tiger Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.2–8.2 vs 5.5–7); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Panda Loach 18–23 °C vs Alligator Gar 24–28 °C).
    • Size gap is too large (250 vs 6 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Panda Loach as food.
    • Your 75 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)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Panda Loach 18–23 °C vs Clown Knifefish 24–28 °C).
    • Size gap is too large (90 vs 6 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat Panda Loach as food.
    • Your 75 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)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Panda Loach 18–23 °C vs Fire Eel 24–28 °C).
    • Panda Loach is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Koi⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    • Panda Loach is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Panda Loach 18–23 °C vs Redtail Catfish 24–27 °C).
    • Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 6 cm Panda Loach whole.
    • Your 75 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)
    • Spotted Gar (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 6 cm Panda Loach whole.
    • Your 75 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)
    • Panda Loach is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Panda Loach 18–23 °C vs Wolf Cichlid 24–30 °C).
    • Size gap is too large (72 vs 6 cm): Wolf Cichlid will treat Panda Loach as food.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 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 a panda loach community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 75 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 panda loach

As a peaceful species, panda loach 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.

Panda Loach grows to about 6 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 3 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 18–23 °C (64–73 °F), pH 7.2–8.2 and 8–15 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Panda Loach is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 4+ 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 panda loach live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 106 compatible freshwater species for panda loach. 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 panda loach?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Ramshorn Snail, Red Lip Nerite Snail, Dawn Tetra. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with a panda loach?

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 panda loach tank mates need?

Start from Panda Loach's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 75 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

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