Can Blue Gourami live with Otocinclus Catfish?
Caution — with care
Why
- Blue Gourami may eat Otocinclus Catfish; add only full-grown adults, because juveniles and fry will be picked off.
- Blue Gourami is semi-aggressive — give the peaceful Otocinclus Catfish plenty of space, cover and broken sight lines.
Sweet spot: both do well at 72–79°F and pH 6–7.5 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Blue Gourami | Otocinclus Catfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–82°F | 72–79°F |
| pH | 6–8.5 | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–20 dGH | 2–10 dGH |
| Adult size | 5" | 1.5" |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 30 gal | 10 gal |
Together, plan on at least 30 gallons.
How to make it work
- Add only full-grown adults — never juveniles, which will be eaten.
- Use a larger, well-decorated tank with sightline breaks, keep everyone well-fed, and add the calmer fish first.
Sort it with: GH remineraliser
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 Blue Gourami, Otocinclus Catfish →Everything compatible with Blue Gourami · …with Otocinclus Catfish