Can Discus and Cuckoo Catfish live together?

Discus and Cuckoo Catfish are not compatible. The comparison on this page runs the same compatibility engine as the tank builder, checking temperature and pH overlap, predation by size, temperament, and known hard-pair conflicts.

Species Comparison

Discus vs Cuckoo Catfish

Discus

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Cuckoo Catfish

Synodontis petricola

Verdict:Not compatible

Side-by-side specs

Cichlids

Family

Catfish

6″

Adult size

4″

75gal

Min tank

30gal

82–88°F

Temperature

75–81°F

5.5–7

7.5–8.5

peaceful

Temperament

peaceful

Schooling

mid

Water level

bottom

Compatibility notes

criticalDiscus (82–88°F) and Cuckoo Catfish (75–81°F) need different temperatures.
warnDiscus prefers pH 5.5–7, Cuckoo Catfish prefers 7.5–8.5 — water chemistry mismatch.

Try both in the builder →Compare different species