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Is Baby Tears a Good Plant for Frogmouth Catfish?

Reviewed by Guidarium Editorial DeskUpdated May 6, 2026
Not Recommended

Baby Tears is not recommended for Frogmouth Catfish. The issue is practical, not cosmetic: frogmouth Catfish is likely to uproot this plant while digging through the substrate.

Baby Tears

Lindernia rotundifolia

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PlacementMidground
LightModerate
DifficultyBeginner
Size30 × 15 cm

Frogmouth Catfish

Chaca chaca

View fish profile
TemperamentAggressive
FamilyCatfish
Temp22–26°C
Water TypeFreshwater Only

Quick Decision

A plant can be technically compatible with a fish and still fail in the actual tank if the fish digs, chews, needs denser cover, or uses a different part of the layout.

Overall fit

58/100

The fish is likely to outgrow, uproot, or out-pressure the plant.

Water match

Workable overlap

Shared range: 22-26°C, pH 6-7.5, 4-15 dGH.

Plant pressure

High

Frogmouth Catfish may chew, uproot, or stress this plant.

Layout value

Moderate cover

Baby Tears helps with breaks lines of sight, good refuge for shrimp, and good refuge for fry.

Plant and Fish Fit Notes

Use these signals to decide whether the plant is doing useful work for the fish, or whether it is only surviving beside it.

Temperature
Baby Tears20-28°C
Frogmouth Catfish22-26°C

Overlap: 22-26°C.

pH
Baby Tears6-7.5
Frogmouth Catfish6-8

Overlap: pH 6-7.5.

Hardness
Baby Tears2-15 dGH
Frogmouth Catfish4-15 dGH

Overlap: 4-15 dGH.

Water and flow
Baby TearsFreshwater Only, Moderate (Standard)
Frogmouth CatfishFreshwater Only, Low (Still Water)

Flow expectations are close enough for one layout.

Space used
Baby TearsMidground and Background
Frogmouth CatfishBottom (Substrate)
Pressure signals
Baby TearsLow uproot resistance, Delicate leaves
Frogmouth CatfishAggressive, Piscivore (Eats small/nano fish), Shy / Slow Moving (Easily Stressed), and Nocturnal

Plant pressure: High.

Planting value
Baby TearsBreaks lines of sight, Good refuge for shrimp, and Good refuge for fry, Inert substrate is fine
Frogmouth CatfishSand (Sifters) and Leaf Litter/Blackwater

Shared Tank Conditions

Baby Tears fits inside the water range normally used for Frogmouth Catfish. The shared window is about 22 to 26 °C, pH 6 to 7.5, and 4 to 15 dGH, which gives you enough room to aim for stable middle-ground conditions.

Their flow expectations are close enough to combine: Baby Tears prefers moderate flow, while Frogmouth Catfish prefers gentle, low-flow water.

Both are suited to freshwater, so salinity does not add an extra planning problem.

Fish Pressure and Plant Resilience

Frogmouth Catfish puts heavy pressure on plants, so this species is likely to be chewed, uprooted, or stressed in day-to-day use.

Baby Tears has moderate cover density, low uproot resistance, and delicate leaves. It can also help with breaking up sight lines, shrimp refuge, and fry refuge.

It gives Frogmouth Catfish useful visual shelter and line-of-sight breaks.

The limiting issue is frogmouth Catfish is likely to uproot this plant while digging through the substrate.

Layout Fit

Baby Tears is a stem plant usually used midground and background.

Frogmouth Catfish is a catfish, so the pairing works best when the planting style supports how that fish uses space and cover.

Baby Tears reaches about 30 cm tall by 15 cm wide and is usually rooted in substrate with inert substrate is fine. That makes placement and anchoring more important than simply adding a larger bunch of stems or leaves.

In this pairing, the useful plant values are line-of-sight breaks, shrimp refuge, and fry refuge. Place it where Frogmouth Catfish can actually use that structure instead of hiding the plant where it cannot do much.

Practical Recommendation

For most keepers, a tougher or better-matched plant is the smarter choice. If you still try it, test with a small amount first and be ready to move the plant before it is badly damaged.

The decision should center on this signal: Frogmouth Catfish is likely to uproot this plant while digging through the substrate.

Best Use Case

Baby Tears is usually the wrong plant for Frogmouth Catfish if your goal is a stable display tank. The issue is rarely one dramatic failure on day one; it is the steady mismatch between what the fish does in the scape and what the plant needs to stay attractive long term.

Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Tears and Frogmouth Catfish

Is Baby Tears a good plant for Frogmouth Catfish?

Baby Tears is not recommended for Frogmouth Catfish. The issue is practical, not cosmetic: frogmouth Catfish is likely to uproot this plant while digging through the substrate.

Can Frogmouth Catfish damage Baby Tears?

Frogmouth Catfish is likely to uproot this plant while digging through the substrate.

Do Baby Tears and Frogmouth Catfish share the same water conditions?

Baby Tears and Frogmouth Catfish share a workable water window around 22 to 26 °C, pH 6 to 7.5, and 4 to 15 dGH. Keep the tank near the middle of that overlap for the best long-term result.

What does Baby Tears add to a tank with Frogmouth Catfish?

It gives Frogmouth Catfish useful visual shelter and line-of-sight breaks.

What is the main risk in this plant and fish pairing?

Frogmouth Catfish is likely to uproot this plant while digging through the substrate.

Editorial Review

Guidarium Editorial Desk

Reviewed against Guidarium care, stocking, and compatibility standards. Read the editorial policy.

Last reviewed
May 6, 2026
Last updated
May 6, 2026
Issues or corrections?
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