Peacock Gudgeon Tank Mates

Peacock Gudgeon is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 151 freshwater species that pair well with a peacock gudgeon — plus the 67 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 8, 2026 • Full Peacock Gudgeon care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a peacock gudgeon

  • 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, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Ramshorn Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 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.
  • Dawn Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Nerite Snail ✅ 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.
  • Assassin Snail ✅ 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.
  • Endler's Livebearer ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °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 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Gold Ring Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Neon Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °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)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Glowlight Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Blue Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • 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 22–28 °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 23–28 °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)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Rosy Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 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.
With caution

Peacock Gudgeon tank mates that can work with care

  • Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Peacock Gudgeon 6.5–7.5 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    African Butterfly Cichlid and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Adult Amano Shrimp might survive with Peacock Gudgeon, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
  • 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.
  • Angelfish ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Expect Angelfish to harass Peacock Gudgeon at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Arrowhead Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 12 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Expect Arrowhead Puffer to harass Peacock Gudgeon at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Ash Lipped Apisto ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    Ash Lipped Apisto is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.

+ 114 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a peacock gudgeon

  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Peacock Gudgeon 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)
    Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Peacock Gudgeon whole.
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Peacock Gudgeon whole.
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Peacock Gudgeon whole.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (90 vs 7 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat Peacock Gudgeon as food.
  • Koi ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    Peacock Gudgeon 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 7 cm Peacock Gudgeon whole.
  • Wolf Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Size gap is too large (72 vs 7 cm): Wolf Cichlid will treat Peacock Gudgeon as food.

+ 59 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a peacock gudgeon

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

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Peacock Gudgeon?

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

  • Agassiz's Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Agassiz's Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bamboo Shrimp✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Betta✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy 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.
  • Black Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 8 cm · Easy 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.
  • 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 22–26 °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.
    • 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)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °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.
    • Keep Blackline Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blood Red Tiger Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 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.
  • Bolivian Ram✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Butterfly Hillstream Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Hard 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.
  • Celebes Rainbowfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 7 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 middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Celebes Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Corydoras Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6.5 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.
    • Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Costa's Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 7 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 middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Costa's Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Croaking Gourami✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 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.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • 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 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Diamond Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy 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 middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Eastern Betta✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 6 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.
  • 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.
    • Keep Elegant Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Gold Barb✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 7.5 cm · Easy care · 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.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Gold Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Peppered Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Peppered Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 7 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.
  • Splashing Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 8 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.
    • Keep Splashing Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotfin Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Spotfin Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Spotted Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Sterbai Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6.5 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Sterbai 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)
    • African Butterfly Cichlid and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
    • 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.
  • Ash Lipped Apisto⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Ash Lipped Apisto is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Banded Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Banded Dwarf Cichlid and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Bleeding Heart Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Bleeding Heart Tetra and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
    • 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.
  • Bright Diamond Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bright Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Buenos Aires Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Buenos Aires Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • 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.
  • Colombian Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~114 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Colombian Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Expect Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid to harass Peacock Gudgeon at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Mahachai Betta⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Mahachai Betta and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Roundtail Paradise Fish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 10–26 °C (50–79 °F)
    • Expect Roundtail Paradise Fish to harass Peacock Gudgeon at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Sumo Loach⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Sumo Loach and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Tiger Barb⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Tiger Barb is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • 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)
    • Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Peacock Gudgeon whole.
    • Alligator Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • 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)
    • Size gap is too large (90 vs 7 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat Peacock Gudgeon as food.
    • Expect Clown Knifefish to harass Peacock Gudgeon at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • 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)
    • Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Peacock Gudgeon whole.
    • Fire Eel clearly outsizes Peacock Gudgeon and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • 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)
    • Peacock Gudgeon 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)
    • Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Peacock Gudgeon whole.
    • Redtail Catfish clearly outsizes Peacock Gudgeon and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • 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 7 cm Peacock Gudgeon whole.
    • Spotted Gar clearly outsizes Peacock Gudgeon and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • 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)
    • Peacock Gudgeon is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
    • Wels Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • 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)
    • Size gap is too large (72 vs 7 cm): Wolf Cichlid will treat Peacock Gudgeon as food.
    • Wolf Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • 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 peacock gudgeon 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.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — buying through these links costs you nothing extra.

How to choose

How to choose the right tank mates for a peacock gudgeon

As a peaceful species, peacock gudgeon 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.

Peacock Gudgeon grows to about 7 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 4 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 22–28 °C (72–82 °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.

Peacock Gudgeon 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 peacock gudgeon live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 151 compatible freshwater species for peacock gudgeon. 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 peacock gudgeon?

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 peacock gudgeon?

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 peacock gudgeon tank mates need?

Start from Peacock Gudgeon'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.

← Back to the full Peacock Gudgeon care guide