Compatibility brief
Can Neon Tetra live with Cuckoo / petricola catfish?
Caution. Check the issues below before buying.
Neon Tetra + Cuckoo / petricola catfish: Narrow temperature overlap. Neon Tetra and Cuckoo / petricola catfish have only a narrow shared temperature range. Maintaining stable water temperature will be important. Outcomes still depend on your tank shape, maintenance routine, and individual fish.
Compatibility score
Profile confidence: medium
Order of checkstank volume vs adults → predation mouth gap → temperament / fin nipping → shared water windows.
200L
Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 200L (larger active fish often want more length).
Cuckoo / petricola catfish (10cm adult) may treat small Neon Tetra (~4cm) as food once grown — plan adult sizes, not shop sizes.
Assessment details
Compatible temperaments
Both Neon Tetra and Cuckoo / petricola catfish share a peaceful temperament.
Narrow temperature overlap
Top issueNeon Tetra and Cuckoo / petricola catfish have only a narrow shared temperature range. Maintaining stable water temperature will be important.
Narrow pH overlap
These fish can share water but their ideal pH ranges overlap only slightly. Aim to keep pH stable in the shared range.
“Neon Tetra and Cuckoo / petricola catfish have only a narrow…”
Narrow temperature overlap
Next steps
Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.
- •Neon Tetra should be kept in a group of at least 6 for best health and behaviour.
- •Cuckoo / petricola catfish should be kept in a group of at least 4 for best health and behaviour.
Try instead
- →Neon Tetra should be kept in a group of at least 6 for best health and behaviour.
- →Cuckoo / petricola catfish should be kept in a group of at least 4 for best health and behaviour.
- Seriously Fish. Paracheirodon innesi
Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).
- FishBase. Paracheirodon innesi
Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.
- Wikipedia. Paracheirodon innesi
Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.
- Seriously Fish. Synodontis petricola
Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).
- FishBase. Synodontis petricola
Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.
- Wikipedia. Synodontis petricola
Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.
Try this next
Build the full stocking list with Neon Tetra + Cuckoo / petricola catfish
Plan further
Try both species in the full-stock tank check, or open either fish profile for mates lists. Methodology explains how verdicts are produced.
Individual fish vary in personality. Fishori uses conservative hobby rules. Observe any new introduction closely, feed thoughtfully, and keep a quarantine or backup plan. This is not veterinary advice.
Profile data confidence: high. Based on multiple reputable aquarium care sources with strong agreement.