Redtail Catfish Tank Mates
Redtail Catfish is aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 2 freshwater species that pair well with a redtail catfish — plus the 284 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for a redtail catfish
- Sailfin Pleco ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 50 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Black Doras Catfish ✅ CompatibleHard care · Peaceful · 60 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Redtail Catfish tank mates that can work with care
- Adolf's Cory ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Adolf's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Agassiz's Corydoras ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Agassiz's Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Assassin Snail ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Assassin Snail, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Axelrod's Cory ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Redtail Catfish 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 cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Bandit Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Bearded Corydoras ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Blood Red Tiger Pleco ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Blood Red Tiger Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Blue Turbo Snail ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Blue Turbo Snail, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
+ 46 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with a redtail catfish
- Mekong Giant Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Semi-aggressive · 300 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)Redtail Catfish and Mekong Giant Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Wels Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)Redtail Catfish and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Alligator Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Redtail Catfish and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Fire Eel ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Redtail Catfish and Fire Eel will hold territory and clash.
- Clown Knifefish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Redtail Catfish and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
- Spotted Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)Redtail Catfish and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Wolf Cichlid ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Redtail Catfish and Wolf Cichlid will hold territory and clash.
- Giant Gourami ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 70 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Redtail Catfish and Giant Gourami are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
+ 276 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.
Check any fish against a redtail catfish
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a redtail catfish, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Will it live with a Redtail Catfish?
We compare each fish against your redtail catfish on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Black Doras Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 60 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Sailfin Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 50 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Bearded Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bristlenose Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Bristlenose Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Clown Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Clown Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Common Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 45 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Common Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Giant Glass Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Redtail Catfish clearly outsizes Giant Glass Catfish and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Giant Glass Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Koi⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Redtail Catfish and Koi are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add koi in a group to spread the pressure.
- Marbled Hoplo⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Marbled Hoplo, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Medusa Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Medusa Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Porthole Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Porthole Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Rubber Lip Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Rubber Lip Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Snowball Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Snowball Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Spotted Rubbernose Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Spotted Rubbernose Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Spotted Talking Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Spotted Talking Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Upside-down Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Upside-down Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Yellow-spotted Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 35 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Yellow-spotted Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Zebra Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Hard care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Zebra Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Redtail Catfish and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Redtail Catfish and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Redtail Catfish and Fire Eel will hold territory and clash.
- Giant Gourami⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 70 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Redtail Catfish and Giant Gourami are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Redtail Catfish may hunt Giant Gourami, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Mekong Giant Catfish⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
- Redtail Catfish and Mekong Giant Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Your 5700 L tank is below the ~100000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Redtail Catfish and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Redtail Catfish and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Wels Catfish may bully the smaller Redtail Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Your 5700 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Redtail Catfish and Wolf Cichlid will hold territory and clash.
- Redtail Catfish may hunt Wolf Cichlid, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
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 redtail catfish community tank
Give the group a stable, planted 5700 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 the right tank mates for a redtail catfish
Redtail Catfish is aggressive and territorial, so most community fish are unsafe; any tank mate must be large, tough and able to hold its own. It mostly occupies the bottom of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.
Redtail Catfish grows to about 120 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 60 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 24–27 °C (75–81 °F), pH 6–7.5 and 3–10 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.
Redtail Catfish doesn't need its own kind to feel secure; think twice before keeping more than one if it is territorial. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.
Frequently asked questions
Can a redtail catfish live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 2 compatible freshwater species for redtail 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 redtail catfish?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Sailfin Pleco, Black Doras Catfish. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with a redtail catfish?
Avoid Mekong Giant Catfish, Wels Catfish, Alligator Gar and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.
How big a tank do redtail catfish tank mates need?
Start from Redtail Catfish's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 5700 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.