Upside-down catfish compatibility
Every pairing AquariumHQ has assessed for Upside-down catfish, 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 Upside-down catfish 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 |
|---|---|---|
| territory | 33 | 37% |
| temperature | 30 | 33% |
| breeding aggression | 27 | 30% |
| predation | 16 | 18% |
| ph | 8 | 9% |
| flow | 4 | 4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Comfortable for both | 35 |
| Workable | 32 |
| One animal at the edge of its range | 10 |
| Forced compromise — neither animal is where it wants to be | 10 |
| No overlap at all | 3 |
Every assessed pairing
Grouped by verdict, worst first.
Incompatible (16)
Should not be attempted. At least one factor is expected to cause harm.
- with Bala shark1 concern
- with Black ghost knifefish3 concerns
- with Clown knifefish3 concerns
- with Frontosa4 concerns
- with Giant gourami3 concerns
- with Goldfish2 concerns
- with Iridescent shark2 concerns
- with Jack Dempsey3 concerns
- with Koi carp2 concerns
- with Oscar3 concerns
- with Redtail catfish3 concerns
- with Rope fish1 concern
- with Senegal bichir1 concern
- with Silver arowana4 concerns
- with Tinfoil barb1 concern
- with White Cloud Mountain minnow1 concern
Poor match (8)
Workable only in unusual circumstances. Not a pairing to plan around.
Conditional (19)
Can work, but only if the stated conditions are met.
- with Amano shrimp2 concerns
- with Angelfish2 concerns
- with Bloodfin tetra1 concern
- with Blue acara2 concerns
- with Cherry shrimp2 concerns
- with Convict cichlid2 concerns
- with Doctor fish3 concerns
- with Firehead tetra2 concerns
- with Firemouth cichlid2 concerns
- with Ghost shrimp2 concerns
- with Green terror3 concerns
- with Jewel cichlid2 concerns
- with Kribensis2 concerns
- with Molly1 concern
- with Red swamp crayfish2 concerns
- with Sailfin molly1 concern
- with Severum2 concerns
- with Siamese fighting fish2 concerns
- with Zebra danio1 concern
Generally compatible (26)
Usually works. Minor points to watch are listed below.
- with Black ruby barb1 concern
- with Bladder snail1 concern
- with Bolivian ram1 concern
- with Bristlenose pleco1 concern
- with Bronze corydoras1 concern
- with Celestial pearl danio1 concern
- with Chili rasbora1 concern
- with Clown loach1 concern
- with Common pleco1 concern
- with Dwarf gourami1 concern
- with German blue ram2 concerns
- with Gold nugget pleco3 concerns
- with Moonlight gourami2 concerns
- with Neon tetra1 concern
- with Panda corydoras1 concern
- with Pea puffer1 concern
- with Peacock gudgeon2 concerns
- with Pictus catfish1 concern
- with Platy1 concern
- with Pygmy corydoras1 concern
- with Rainbow shark1 concern
- with Red-tailed black shark1 concern
- with Scissortail rasbora1 concern
- with Siamese algae eater1 concern
- with Skunk loach1 concern
- with Swordtail1 concern
Compatible (21)
Requirements align and no behavioural conflict is expected.
- with Bleeding heart tetrano concerns
- with Cardinal tetrano concerns
- with Cherry barbno concerns
- with Eastern rainbowfishno concerns
- with Ember tetrano concerns
- with Golden wonder killifishno concerns
- with Guppyno concerns
- with Harlequin rasborano concerns
- with Honey gouramino concerns
- with Indian glassfishno concerns
- with Kuhli loachno concerns
- with Mystery snailno concerns
- with Nerite snailno concerns
- with Otocinclusno concerns
- with Pearl gouramino concerns
- with Red-eye tetrano concerns
- with Rummy-nose tetrano concerns
- with Serpae tetrano concerns
- with Silver dollarno concerns
- with Tiger barbno concerns
- with Yoyo loachno concerns
Verdict distribution
| Verdict | Pairings | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Generally compatible | 26 | Usually works. Minor points to watch are listed below. |
| Compatible | 21 | Requirements align and no behavioural conflict is expected. |
| Conditional | 19 | Can work, but only if the stated conditions are met. |
| Incompatible | 16 | Should not be attempted. At least one factor is expected to cause harm. |
| Poor match | 8 | Workable only in unusual circumstances. Not a pairing to plan around. |