Can Pacific Sturgeon and Royal Farlowella Catfish Live Together?

Pacific Sturgeon is a generally mild-mannered species (3/10), while Royal Farlowella Catfish is peaceful (1/10). This modest difference means Pacific Sturgeon may occasionally assert dominance over Royal Farlowella Catfish.

Pacific Sturgeon and Royal Farlowella Catfish both frequent the Bottom (Substrate) 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. Aggressive eaters may outcompete shy fish for food, leading to malnutrition.

Worth noting: Royal Farlowella Catfish is nocturnal and will be most active after lights-out, naturally reducing daytime encounters.

There is no temperature overlap between Pacific Sturgeon (10–22°C) and Royal Farlowella Catfish (24–28°C). This fundamental mismatch makes long-term cohabitation impractical.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 6.5 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 4–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house Pacific Sturgeon and Royal Farlowella Catfish together, plan for an aquarium of at least 20000 litres with a minimum length of 600 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

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), Established Algae (Otocinclus), Plants - Densely covered. Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

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

Pacific Sturgeon and Royal Farlowella Catfish are the kind of pair that can look acceptable in a shop but become a maintenance problem at home. The main risk is not a single number in the chart; it is the way incompatible behavior, water needs, or pressure on space compounds over time once both fish are established in the same tank.

Feeding time deserves special attention with this pairing. Pacific Sturgeon is an aggressive eater that may prevent Royal Farlowella Catfish from getting enough food.

Because Pacific Sturgeon is a fast, competitive feeder, consider using sinking pellets or feeding at opposite ends of the setup to ensure Royal Farlowella Catfish receives an adequate share.