i got mine 'alone.' i put 12 small crappie and 3 small bream, a 5" crawfish and 4 apple snails in there for him to eat. He hasnt touch any of them. i put some MTS and goldfish in there and he ate'em up. they bream/crappie go up to him face to face and even pic sand off him back and he dont care. The apple snails crawl all over him and he'll rest his head on my big one. I wouldnt worry about keeping him with tankmates but they wouldnt be any really nice fish