Can Cuckoo Catfish and Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye Live Together?

Cuckoo Catfish is a moderately assertive species (5/10), while Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye is peaceful (2/10). This modest difference means Cuckoo Catfish may occasionally assert dominance over Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye.

Cuckoo Catfish and Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye 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.

Worth noting: Cuckoo Catfish is nocturnal and will be most active after lights-out, naturally reducing daytime encounters. Also, Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

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.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 7.5 and 7.5. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 10–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range. An aquarium test kit is recommended for monitoring.

To house Cuckoo Catfish and Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye 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: Sand (Sifters), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Plants - Densely covered, Plants - Floating, Leaf Litter/Blackwater. Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

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