Can Amazon Leaf Fish and Cuckoo Catfish Live Together?

Amazon Leaf Fish is a peaceful species (2/10), while Cuckoo Catfish is moderately assertive (5/10). This modest difference means Cuckoo Catfish may occasionally assert dominance over Amazon Leaf Fish.

Amazon Leaf Fish and Cuckoo Catfish both frequent the Middle (Open Water) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

Additional behavioural considerations to keep in mind: Hyperactive swimmers can stress shy, slow-moving species through constant motion.

Worth noting: Amazon Leaf Fish is nocturnal and will be most active after lights-out, naturally reducing daytime encounters.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 24°C and 28°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 26.0°C) for optimal comfort.

The pH requirements of Amazon Leaf Fish (5–6.8) and Cuckoo Catfish (7.5–9) do not overlap, making it impossible to satisfy both species simultaneously.

Hardness requirements are incompatible: Amazon Leaf Fish needs 0–8 dGH while Cuckoo Catfish requires 10–25 dGH.

To house Amazon Leaf Fish and Cuckoo Catfish together, plan for an aquarium of at least 408 litres with a minimum length of 120 cm. This accounts for the larger species' space requirements with an additional 20 % buffer to reduce territorial tension.

Providing a mix of open swimming space and sheltered areas with rocks, driftwood, or plants will keep both species comfortable and allow natural behaviour.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Leaf Litter/Blackwater, Plants - Densely covered, Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Plants - Floating, Sand (Sifters), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels). Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Both species do well with low (still water) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.