Can Otocinclus Catfish live with Purple Vampire Crab?
Not recommended
Why
- Purple Vampire 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
| Otocinclus Catfish | Purple Vampire Crab | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–79°F | 75–82°F |
| pH | 6–7.5 | 7.5–8 |
| Hardness (GH) | 2–10 dGH | 8–15 dGH |
| Adult size | 1.5" | 1.5" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Semi-aggressive |
| Min tank | 10 gal | 20 gal |
Together, plan on at least 20 gallons.
Compatible alternatives
Instead of Otocinclus Catfish (to keep Purple Vampire 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
Instead of Purple Vampire 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
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 Otocinclus Catfish, Purple Vampire Crab →Everything compatible with Otocinclus Catfish · …with Purple Vampire Crab