Can Carnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab live with Otocinclus Catfish?
Not recommended
Why
- Carnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab hunts along the bottom and will catch the bottom-dwelling Otocinclus Catfish, especially at night.
- Only a narrow pH overlap — keep both around 7.5–7.5.
- Only a narrow water hardness overlap — keep both around 8–10 dGH.
Side-by-side
| Carnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab | Otocinclus Catfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 75–82°F | 72–79°F |
| pH | 7.5–8 | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 8–15 dGH | 2–10 dGH |
| Adult size | 1.5" | 1.5" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 10 gal | 10 gal |
Together, plan on at least 10 gallons.
Compatible alternatives
Instead of Carnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab (to keep Otocinclus Catfish):
- Thai Micro Pom Pom Crab — 0.8", peaceful
- Pom Pom Crab — 1", semi-aggressive
- Thai Micro Crab — 0.4", peaceful
Instead of Otocinclus Catfish (to keep Carnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab):
- Black Neon Tetra — 1.5", peaceful
- Lambchop Rasbora — 1.25", peaceful
- Neon Tetra — 1.5", peaceful buy at The Shrimp Farm · The Shrimp Farm live-arrival guarantee
Where to buy
- Otocinclus Catfish: buy at The Shrimp Farm · The Shrimp Farm live-arrival guarantee
Live-animal shipping: add a heat pack below 50°F, expect weather holds above 90°F, and schedule delivery for a moderate week when someone can receive it promptly.
Design the whole tank, not just the stocking
Skapelab plans a complete, buildable planted aquarium around your fish — a hand-illustrated layout, the exact plants and hardscape, a placement map, and a full equipment and shopping list. Free.
Design a tank with Carnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab, Otocinclus Catfish →Everything compatible with Carnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab · …with Otocinclus Catfish
Related pairings
Carnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab + Neon TetraCarnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab + Cherry ShrimpCarnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab + AngelfishCarnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab + Nerite SnailCarnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab + Amano ShrimpCarnival / Polka Dot Freshwater Crab + Harlequin Rasbora