Assassin Snail Tank Mates

Assassin Snail is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 147 freshwater species that pair well with an assassin snail — plus the 2 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 7, 2026 • Full Assassin Snail care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for an assassin snail

  • Ember Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Neon Green Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Ramshorn Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Dawn Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Cherry Shrimp ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Endler's Livebearer ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Glowlight Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Gold Ring Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Neon Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Trinidad Guppy ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Pygmy Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Glowlight Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Blue Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Emperor Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Flame Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Ghost Shrimp ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Glowlight Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Golden Dwarf Barb ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Phoenix Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Red Phantom Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
With caution

Assassin Snail tank mates that can work with care

  • Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Different pH ranges (6.5–7.5 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    African Butterfly Cichlid may bully the smaller Assassin Snail, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid may bully the smaller Assassin Snail, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Alligator Gar ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Alligator Gar may bully the smaller Assassin Snail, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Altifrons Geophagus may bully the smaller Assassin Snail, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Amazon Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Angelfish ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Angelfish may bully the smaller Assassin Snail, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Angelicus Synodontis ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Angelicus Synodontis may bully the smaller Assassin Snail, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.

+ 183 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with an assassin snail

  • Discus ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Peaceful · 20 cm · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Assassin Snail 22–26 °C vs Discus 28–31 °C).
  • German Blue Ram ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 27–30 °C (81–86 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Assassin Snail 22–26 °C vs German Blue Ram 27–30 °C).
Interactive tool

Check any fish against an assassin snail

Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against an assassin snail, with the reasoning for each verdict.

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Assassin Snail?

We compare each fish against your assassin snail on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.

  • African Dwarf Frog✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Amapá Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Amapá Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blackwing Hatchetfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Blackwing Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blue Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Blue Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Cherry Shrimp✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Killifish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Clown Killifish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Dawn Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Dawn Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Dwarf Spotted Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Dwarf Spotted Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Endler's Livebearer✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Endler's Livebearer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Eyespot Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Glowlight Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Glowlight Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Glowlight Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Gold Ring Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Gold Ring Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Lambchop Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Lambchop Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Neon Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Nerite Snail✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Northern Glowlight Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Pea Puffer✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Pygmy Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.2 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Pygmy Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rainbow Emperor Tetra✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Rainbow Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tail-spot Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Tail-spot Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tailspotted Oto✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Tailspotted Oto in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Trinidad Guppy✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Assassin Snail 8–20 vs Black Darter Tetra 0–5 dGH).
  • Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Black Ruby Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Cardinal Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Assassin Snail 8–20 vs Cardinal Tetra 1–6 dGH).
    • Keep Cardinal Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Chocolate Gourami⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (6.5–7.5 vs 4–6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Assassin Snail 8–20 vs Chocolate Gourami 0–5 dGH).
    • Keep Chocolate Gourami in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Crimson Red Betta⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • One likes softer water and the other harder (8–20 vs 0–5 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
  • Crystal Red Shrimp⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
    • One likes softer water and the other harder (8–20 vs 2–5 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
    • Keep Crystal Red Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Dwarf Chain Loach⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Dwarf Chain Loach in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Fire Red Licorice Gourami⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • One likes softer water and the other harder (8–20 vs 0–4 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
  • Green Neon Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Assassin Snail 8–20 vs Green Neon Tetra 0–4 dGH).
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Humpbacked Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Humpbacked Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Morse Code Corydoras⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Morse Code Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Neon Blue Rasbora⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
    • One likes softer water and the other harder (8–20 vs 1–6 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
    • Keep Neon Blue Rasbora in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotfin Betta⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • One likes softer water and the other harder (8–20 vs 0–5 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
  • Tiger Shrimp⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Hard care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Assassin Snail 8–20 vs Tiger Shrimp 0–6 dGH).
    • Keep Tiger Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tucano Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 1.7 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Assassin Snail 8–20 vs Tucano Tetra 1–5 dGH).
    • Keep Tucano Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Wine Red Betta⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Assassin Snail 8–20 vs Wine Red Betta 0–4 dGH).
  • Discus⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Assassin Snail 22–26 °C vs Discus 28–31 °C).
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • German Blue Ram⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 27–30 °C (81–86 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Assassin Snail 22–26 °C vs German Blue Ram 27–30 °C).

Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.

Setting up an assassin snail community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 75 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.

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How to choose

How to choose the right tank mates for an assassin snail

As a peaceful species, assassin snail is easily bullied — favour other calm, non-nippy fish and steer clear of boisterous or aggressive tank mates. It mostly occupies the bottom of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.

Assassin Snail grows to about 3 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 2 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 22–26 °C (72–79 °F), pH 6.5–7.5 and 8–20 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Assassin Snail is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 2+ of its own kind first, then build compatible tank mates around them. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can an assassin snail live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 147 compatible freshwater species for assassin snail. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.

What is the best tank mate for an assassin snail?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Ember Tetra, Neon Green Rasbora, Ramshorn Snail. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with an assassin snail?

Avoid Discus, German Blue Ram and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do assassin snail tank mates need?

Start from Assassin Snail's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 75 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

← Back to the full Assassin Snail care guide