What Kind of Fish Will Live With a Bumblebee Catfish?

A group of catfish from Asia, Africa and South America all go by the name bumblebee catfish. However, despite their huge distribution, most require very similar care and have similar requirements for tank mates. Many fish can share a tank with these catfish, but there are several caveats.

  1. Midwater Fish

    • Small fish may school to confuse predators.

      A bumblebee catfish can easily share an aquarium with schooling fish that tend to swim in the middle levels of the aquarium. This includes a wide variety of medium- to large-sized tetras, rasboras and danios. These fish typically school in the wild for protection, so keep them in groups of at least six. Otherwise, most schooling fish get stressed and more prone to disease. Make sure you select species at least 2.5 to 3 inches long.

    Cichlids

    • The bumblebee catfish will also get on well with medium to large cichlids. Keep in mind that many cichlids have very aggressive, territorial temperaments. However some -- like the freshwater angelfish -- break this generalization. Take care to avoid aggressive cichlids, like most African cichlids or smaller cichlids like rams. Also, avoid cichlids that tend to stake out territories at the bottom of the tank.

    Conspecifics

    • Often, a bumblebee catfish will not get along well with other bumblebee catfish. This catfish tends to get territorial with members of its species, regardless of gender. In very large tanks, larger than 30 gallons, you may be able to keep more than one bumblebee catfish. Your best bet is to use lots of decorations like rock work and driftwood to provide hiding places and break up their lines of sight. Usually, if a bumblebee catfish can hide from others in a large tank, the catfish will not go out of its way to find trouble. However, some individuals can be more aggressive than other, and may hunt down other bumblebees despite precautions.

    What to Avoid

    • The biggest concern with a bumblebee catfish is its size. Though not particularly aggressive with other species, this catfish may act predatory toward smaller fish. Generally, you want to avoid any fish that could fit into the mouth of your bumblebee catfish, typically fish smaller than 2.5 to 3 inches depending on the exact species of your bumblebee catfish. Additionally, fish that tend to hang out near the bottom of the tank, like plecos, may find themselves a target of the bumblebee catfish's aggression.