Doctor fish compatibility
Every pairing AquariumHQ has assessed for Doctor fish, derived from stored behavioural and environmental traits. Each verdict links to the reasoning behind it — including where the evidence runs out.
The species record is on the Doctor fish page. Any pairing not listed here can be assessed on demand with the compatibility checker.
What decides this species' pairings
Counted across every assessment above — the dimensions that actually raise concerns for this animal, rather than the ones a care sheet would list.
| Dimension | Pairings raising it | Share |
|---|---|---|
| temperature | 69 | 77% |
| territory | 51 | 57% |
| flow | 46 | 51% |
| ph | 46 | 51% |
| substrate | 32 | 36% |
| zone competition | 30 | 33% |
Environmental compromise
Whether a shared temperature, pH and hardness band exists is a necessary condition, not evidence that it suits both animals. This counts how good the overlap actually is.
| Overlap quality | Pairings |
|---|---|
| One animal at the edge of its range | 35 |
| Workable | 25 |
| Forced compromise — neither animal is where it wants to be | 15 |
| Comfortable for both | 11 |
| No overlap at all | 4 |
Every assessed pairing
Grouped by verdict, worst first.
Incompatible (13)
Should not be attempted. At least one factor is expected to cause harm.
- with Black ghost knifefish7 concerns
- with Cardinal tetra4 concerns
- with Clown knifefish5 concerns
- with Discus6 concerns
- with Firehead tetra3 concerns
- with Giant gourami5 concerns
- with Iridescent shark3 concerns
- with Koi carp4 concerns
- with Oscar4 concerns
- with Redtail catfish7 concerns
- with Rope fish7 concerns
- with Senegal bichir6 concerns
- with Silver arowana5 concerns
Poor match (27)
Workable only in unusual circumstances. Not a pairing to plan around.
- with American flagfish3 concerns
- with Angelfish5 concerns
- with Bleeding heart tetra4 concerns
- with Cherry barb3 concerns
- with Chili rasbora4 concerns
- with Clown loach5 concerns
- with Dwarf gourami3 concerns
- with Electric blue hap4 concerns
- with Electric yellow cichlid4 concerns
- with Ember tetra4 concerns
- with Firemouth cichlid6 concerns
- with Flavescent peacock6 concerns
- with Frontosa4 concerns
- with German blue ram7 concerns
- with Gold nugget pleco4 concerns
- with Honey gourami3 concerns
- with Jack Dempsey5 concerns
- with Kuhli loach5 concerns
- with Molly3 concerns
- with Moonlight gourami4 concerns
- with Pearl gourami3 concerns
- with Red zebra cichlid5 concerns
- with Rummy-nose tetra3 concerns
- with Severum5 concerns
- with Siamese fighting fish5 concerns
- with Silver dollar2 concerns
- with Skunk loach5 concerns
Conditional (23)
Can work, but only if the stated conditions are met.
- with Bala shark2 concerns
- with Black ruby barb1 concern
- with Blue acara6 concerns
- with Convict cichlid3 concerns
- with Golden wonder killifish3 concerns
- with Goldfish4 concerns
- with Green terror3 concerns
- with Harlequin rasbora3 concerns
- with Jewel cichlid4 concerns
- with Kribensis6 concerns
- with Neon tetra2 concerns
- with Otocinclus3 concerns
- with Panda corydoras4 concerns
- with Pea puffer3 concerns
- with Peacock gudgeon6 concerns
- with Pictus catfish4 concerns
- with Pygmy corydoras4 concerns
- with Sailfin molly3 concerns
- with Scissortail rasbora2 concerns
- with Serpae tetra3 concerns
- with Siamese algae eater4 concerns
- with Tiger barb2 concerns
- with Upside-down catfish3 concerns
Generally compatible (24)
Usually works. Minor points to watch are listed below.
- with Amano shrimp2 concerns
- with Bladder snail2 concerns
- with Bolivian ram6 concerns
- with Bristlenose pleco3 concerns
- with Bronze corydoras4 concerns
- with Celestial pearl danio1 concern
- with Cherry shrimp3 concerns
- with Common pleco4 concerns
- with Eastern rainbowfish1 concern
- with Ghost shrimp3 concerns
- with Guppy2 concerns
- with Indian glassfish1 concern
- with Kissing gourami3 concerns
- with Mystery snail2 concerns
- with Nerite snail4 concerns
- with Peppered corydoras3 concerns
- with Platy1 concern
- with Rainbow shark3 concerns
- with Red swamp crayfish3 concerns
- with Red-eye tetra2 concerns
- with Red-tailed black shark3 concerns
- with Tinfoil barb1 concern
- with White Cloud Mountain minnow1 concern
- with Yoyo loach4 concerns
Compatible (3)
Requirements align and no behavioural conflict is expected.
Verdict distribution
| Verdict | Pairings | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Poor match | 27 | Workable only in unusual circumstances. Not a pairing to plan around. |
| Generally compatible | 24 | Usually works. Minor points to watch are listed below. |
| Conditional | 23 | Can work, but only if the stated conditions are met. |
| Incompatible | 13 | Should not be attempted. At least one factor is expected to cause harm. |
| Compatible | 3 | Requirements align and no behavioural conflict is expected. |