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Last update: November 8, 2023

15 Best Leopard Bush Tank Mates – FishLab

Need a friend for your Leopard Bush Fish? We’ve got you covered with our list of the 15 Best Leopard Bush Tank Mates!

The 15 Best Leopard Bush Tank Mates are those which not only can survive in the specific environment and tank size of a Leopard Bush, but have similar personalities and levels of aggression. A Leopard Bush fish can coexist well with fish like plecos, Silvar Dollar fish, bala sharks, and some species of Catfish.

In this article we will cover the 15 Best Leopard Bush Tank Mates for you to choose from. We’ll give you an overview of the reasons they make great tank mates, and we’ll even make sure you’re aware of the categories of knowledge you’ll need to have to pick the right ones. Let’s begin!

Leopard Bush  Tank Mates – What You Need to Know

Temperament

A Leopard Bush does have some aggression in its system which can make it dangerous, but only toward the wrong tank mates. What you’ll need is a fish that can either stand up for itself, or is too burly for a Leopard Bush to bother being grumpy towards. 

Size

A Leopard Bush can typically grow to be up to 8 inches in length. This means that it is most commonly at peace if it has plenty of room to swim around with plants and rocks to break up its eyeline when it is feeling aggressive. 

Fish that are kept with the Leopard Bush should be larger than 8 inches, or, if they are smaller, not small enough to fit in the Leopard Bush’s mouth!

Competition

 A Leopard Bush enjoys a diet of live food. It enjoys blood worms and tubifex, but can be satisfied with frozen foods, too. It tends to eat at dusk and nighttime. If you’d like to keep the peace in your tank, find fish that eat during midday, or enjoy a completely different diet than a leopard bush to avoid competition.

Parameters ; Tank Setup

A Leopard Bush needs a tank setup that involves a wide open bottom with plants to hide around during the daytime. They need temperatures of 73 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. As long as the tank mates you choose can survive in similar conditions, you’ll have a fine aquarium!

15 Best Leopard Bush  Tank Mates

  1. Silver Dollar Fish
  2. Bala Shark
  3. Angelfish
  4. Hoplo Catfish
  5. Bichir
  6. Bristlenose Pleco
  7. Bronze Corydoras
  8. Skunk Cory
  9. Chocolate Gourami
  10. Kissing Gourami
  11. Pearl Gourami
  12. Blue Gourami
  13. Swordtail
  14. Barbatus Cory
  15. Glass Catfish

Let’s take a closer look at all of these species to see the pros and cons of keeping them with a Leopard Bush!

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1. Silver Dollar Fish

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  • Scientific Name: Mtyinnis argentus
  • Adult Size: 6 inches 
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Medium difficulty
  • Origin: Brazil, Guyana

These fish are named for their large round bodies and iridescent silver color! Silver Dollar Fish are great companions to Leopard Bush Fish because they are peaceful, unable to start trouble, and too large for the Leopard Bush to Bully. 

The Silver Dollar Fish enjoys being kept in schools of its own kind. The only difficulty in keeping this tank mate is that it can result in a large aquarium.

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No aggression
  • Too big to be bullied

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • Large Fish

2. Bala Shark

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  • Scientific Name: Balantiocheilos melanopterus
  • Adult Size: 13 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Easy to medium difficulty
  • Origin: Southeast Asia

The bala Shark is one of the most interesting fish that can be added to a lineup with the Leopard bush! It has the rough silhouette of a shark with its forked fins and swimming motion. 

Bala sharks can also get quite large, and can be accommodated with a school of their own kind. They are too large to be bullied.

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No food competition
  • Too large to be bullied

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • Large Fish

3. Angelfish

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  • Scientific Name: Pterophyllum scalare
  • Adult Size: 6 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: easy
  • Origin: South America

The freshwater angelfish can not only survive in the same tank requirements as the Leopard Bush; it is also too large to fear bullying. 

In addition to eating during the day, Angelfish can provide beautiful color to an otherwise drab tank.

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No food competition
  • Too large to be bullied

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • None

4. Hoplo Catfish

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  • Scientific Name: hoplosternum littorale 
  • Adult Size: 6 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Easy
  • Origin: Florida, Everglades

The Hoplo is the first of our list of tank mates to be a catfish that will generally get along with the Leopard Bush. It joins the Leopard Bush in coloration, being a rusty color with black speckles. 

Hoplo Catfish are too large to fear the Leopard Bush, and generally occupy the bottom of the tank.

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No aggression
  • Too big to be bullied

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • None!

5. Bichir

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  • Scientific Name: Polypterus Senegalus
  • Adult Size: 18 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Difficult
  • Origin: Africa

It may be tempting to get a Bichir as a tank mate after you see its shape. This is a large fish with a long, slender body and an interestingly aerodynamic shape, shooting through the water!

However, bichirs can be aggressive if they feel they don’t have enough room. To keep the peace, make sure there is a large tank!

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No food competition

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • Can be aggressive without enough room
  • Large Fish

6. Bristlenose Pleco

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  • Scientific Name: Ancistrus cirrhosus
  • Adult Size: 5 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Easy
  • Origin: Amazon

Everyone just loves the Bristlenose pleco! This fish can survive in several different types of aquarium and is generally considered one of the all-time greatest options for tank mates. 

This fish is peaceful, coasting along the bottom of the aquarium. He has a face full of bristles for visual interest!

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No aggression
  • Too big to be bullied
  • Cleans up the bottom of the tank

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • None!

7. Bronze Corydoras

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  • Scientific Name: Corydoras aeneus
  • Adult Size: 2 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Easy
  • Origin: Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina

The Bronze Corydoras is another popular fish among aquarium collectors. Though it is quite a bit smaller than the Leopard Bush, it usually won’t be in danger of being preyed upon. 

Make sure there are plenty of plants and a few of its own kind for this cory to hide among, and things should be fine! Bronze corys are named for their chining brown-to-slate bodies, and they swim along the bottom of the tank.

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No food competition
  • Avoids being bullied

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • None!

8. Skunk Cory

shutterstock 1554751064
  • Scientific Name: Corydoras arcuatus
  • Adult Size: 2 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Medium Difficulty
  • Origin: South America

The Skunk cory is another example of the cory species that will be able to withstand any bothering from the Leopard Bush. Like its predecessor, it loves the bottom of the tank and will make itself safely scarce if there’s trouble.

The skunk cory is, predictably, named after its pale and black markings!

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No aggression
  • No food competition

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • None!

9. Chocolate Gourami

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  • Scientific Name: Sphaerichthys osphromenoides
  • Adult Size: 2 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Difficult
  • Origin: Borneo, Sumatra

The chocolate gourami can be difficult to care for because it is hard to please and prone to parasites. However, its temperament is shy and peaceful. 

It may face bullying from the Leopard Bush, but with enough plants to hide around, it can be a suitable tank mate for the Leopard Bush. 

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No aggression
  • No food competition

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • Can be bullied

10.  Kissing Gourami

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  • Scientific Name: Helostom Temminkii
  • Adult Size: 12 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Difficult
  • Origin: Sumatra

One of the most difficult gouramis to keep because of its sheer size, the Kissing Gourami will not be bullied by the Leopard Bush! In fact, this fish is famous for using its protruding lips to battle with others of its kind. 

It is a pale pink in color, and though there may be some fighting, the Kissing Gourami is not in danger of being eaten.

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • Can’t be eaten or bullied
  • No food competition

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • Some risk of fighting

11. Pearl Gourami

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  • Scientific Name: Trichopodus Leerii
  • Adult Size: 4 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Easy
  • Origin: Borneo

Pearl Gouramis may be peaceful most of the time, but they’re too big to be eaten by a Leopard Bush. Besides, they are known for fighting one another when they need to, so they won’t be bullied out of food by their tank mates. 

Pearl Gouramis are lovely, with lace-like white patterns overlaying a black stripe and peachy orange coloration.

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No aggression
  • Can’t be bullied

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • None!

12. Blue Gourami

shutterstock 1659577153
  • Scientific Name: Trichogaster trichopterus
  • Adult Size: 5 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Easy
  • Origin: Southeast Asia

A large specimen of gourami, the blue gourami also won’t be bullied. It is one of the most striking members of its species, visually.

Blue gouramis are named for their sapphire color, patterned with reflection-like light blue!

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No aggression
  • Too big to be bullied

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • None!

13. Swordtail

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  • Scientific Name: Xiphophorus helleri
  • Adult Size: 4 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Easy
  • Origin: Central America

Swordtails are named for their long forked tails, trailing behind them. That being said, they come in a beautiful variety of jewel-like colors.

These fish may be small, but they’re not small enough to be bullied by the Leopard Bush. They also feed at different times.

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No food competition
  • Too big to be bullied

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • None!

14. Barbatus Cory

shutterstock 1686440536
  • Scientific Name: Scleromystax barbatus
  • Adult Size: 2 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Easy
  • Origin: Brazil

This peaceful fish won’t be bothered by the Leopard Bush. It does share some visual color similarities though, and its muddy stripe sometimes earns it the name “Banded cory.”

This fish will spend its time at the bottom of the tank. There, it will eat detritus and be bothered by nobody!

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No aggression
  • Cleans up the tank

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • None!

15. Glass Catfish

shutterstock 1139294033 2
  • Scientific Name: Kryptopterus vitreolus
  • Adult Size: 3 inches
  • Compatible With: Leopard Bush
  • Care Level: Easy
  • Origin: Thailand

This fish may look delicate, but it is off-putting in appearance and too big to be snacked on by the Leopard Bush! It is also amazing to look at.

Glass catfish are named for their seeming transparency. Don’t be surprised to look at your aquarium and see nothing but eyes and a fish skeleton!

Pros of keeping with Leopard Bush :

  • No aggression
  • Too big to be eaten

Cons of keeping with Leopard Bush  :

  • None!

In Conclusion

To sum everything we’ve learned up, the 15 Best Leopard Bush Tank Mates are peaceful by nature, occupy a different zone than the Leopard Bush if they’re much smaller than 8 inches, or can’t fit in the other fish’s mouth at all! If you can find a fish like this, such as the Bala shark or Bristlenose pleco, you’ll have yourself a beautiful and peaceful aquarium!

Ian Sterling

Ian Sterling, founder of Fishlab.com, began his aquarium journey over 30 years ago, driven by a deep fascination for fish and their diverse personalities. His website, Fishlab.com, is dedicated to making fishkeeping accessible and enjoyable, offering beginner-friendly guidance, expert insights, and a community for aquarists to connect and share experiences.

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