Black Darter Tetra Tank Mates

Black Darter Tetra is semi-aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 71 freshwater species that pair well with a black darter tetra — plus the 94 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

The best tank mates for a black darter tetra

  • Black Phantom Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Gold Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Lemon Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • X-ray Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Yellow Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4.5 cm · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Axelrod's Cory ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Bandit Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Checkered Barb ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 21–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Cherry Barb ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Five-banded Barb ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Forktail Blue-eye ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Harlequin Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Honey Gourami ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Julii Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Masked Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Skunk Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Stoliczka's Barb ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Zebra Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Bloodfin Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Rust Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Agassiz's Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Blackline Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Diamond Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Elegant Cory ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.

Black Darter Tetra tank mates that can work with care

  • African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
  • African Dwarf Frog ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Black Darter Tetra 3.5–6.5 vs African Dwarf Frog 6.8–7.8) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Black Darter Tetra and Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    One likes softer water and the other harder (0–5 vs 6–15 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
  • Amapá Tetra ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Amapá Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • 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)
    Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
  • Ash Lipped Apisto ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    Black Darter Tetra and Ash Lipped Apisto can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.

+ 167 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Fish to avoid keeping with a black darter tetra

  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Black Darter Tetra and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
  • Alligator Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Black Darter Tetra and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Black Darter Tetra and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (100 vs 4 cm): Fire Eel will treat Black Darter Tetra as food.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Black Darter Tetra and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Koi ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Black Darter Tetra whole.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Black Darter Tetra and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
  • Wolf Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Black Darter Tetra and Wolf Cichlid are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.

+ 86 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Check any fish against a black darter tetra

Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a black darter tetra, with the reasoning for each verdict.

Will it live with a Black Darter Tetra?

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

  • Axelrod's Cory✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; 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.
    • Keep Axelrod's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bandit Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; 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.
    • Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Black Phantom Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Black Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Checkered Barb✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 21–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Checkered Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Cherry Barb✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Cherry Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Chocolate Gourami✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Chocolate Gourami in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Cochu's Blue Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Cochu's Blue Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Firehead Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Firehead Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Five-banded Barb✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Five-banded Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Forktail Blue-eye✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Forktail Blue-eye in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Gold Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Gold Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Half-striped Penguin Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Harlequin Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Honey Gourami✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Horseman Cory✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; 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.
    • Keep Horseman Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Julii Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °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 Julii Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Lemon Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Lemon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Masked Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °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 Masked Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Otocinclus✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; 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.
    • Keep Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Panda Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; 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.
    • Keep Panda Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tailspotted Oto✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; 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.
    • Keep Tailspotted Oto in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tiger Otocinclus✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; 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.
    • Keep Tiger Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • X-ray Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Yellow Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Yellow Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • African Dwarf Frog⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Black Darter Tetra 3.5–6.5 vs African Dwarf Frog 6.8–7.8) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Amapá Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Amapá Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Amapá Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blue Danio⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    • Black Darter Tetra and Blue Danio are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add blue danio in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Blue Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blue Emperor Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Blue Emperor Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Blue Emperor Tetra 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)
    • Black Darter Tetra and Cardinal Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add cardinal tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Cardinal Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Emperor Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Black Darter Tetra and Emperor Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add emperor tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Flame Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Black Darter Tetra and Flame Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add flame tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Ghost Shrimp⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Black Darter Tetra, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Glowlight Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Black Darter Tetra and Glowlight Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add glowlight tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Glowlight Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Golden Dwarf Barb⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    • Black Darter Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Golden Dwarf Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Golden Dwarf Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Jelly Bean Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Black Darter Tetra and Jelly Bean Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add jelly bean tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Marbled Hatchetfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Black Darter Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Marbled Hatchetfish — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Marbled Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Phoenix Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Phoenix Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Phoenix Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Purple Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Black Darter Tetra and Purple Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add purple tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Purple Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Red Phantom Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Red Phantom Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Red Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rosy Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Rosy Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Rosy Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Black Darter Tetra and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
    • Black Darter Tetra is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
    • pH preferences only just meet (Black Darter Tetra 3.5–6.5 vs Alligator Gar 6.8–7.8) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Black Darter Tetra and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Size gap is too large (90 vs 4 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat Black Darter Tetra as food.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Fire Eel⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (100 vs 4 cm): Fire Eel will treat Black Darter Tetra as food.
    • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Koi⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    • Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Black Darter Tetra whole.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Black Darter Tetra 0–5 vs Koi 9–18 dGH).
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Black Darter Tetra and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
    • Size gap is too large (120 vs 4 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Black Darter Tetra as food.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Black Darter Tetra and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
    • Size gap is too large (90 vs 4 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Black Darter Tetra as food.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Black Darter Tetra and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
    • Black Darter Tetra is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Black Darter Tetra and Wolf Cichlid are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Black Darter Tetra is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
    • Different pH ranges (3.5–6.5 vs 7–8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Black Darter Tetra 0–5 vs Wolf Cichlid 8–20 dGH).
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.

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 a black darter tetra 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 the right tank mates for a black darter tetra

Being semi-aggressive, black darter tetra can nip or harass smaller, slower or long-finned fish — give it space, broken sight-lines and similarly robust companions. It mostly occupies the bottom of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.

Black Darter Tetra grows to about 4 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 21–28 °C (70–82 °F), pH 3.5–6.5 and 0–5 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Black Darter Tetra 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.

Frequently asked questions

Can a black darter tetra live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 71 compatible freshwater species for black darter tetra. 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 a black darter tetra?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Black Phantom Tetra, Gold Tetra, Lemon Tetra. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with a black darter tetra?

Avoid Wels Catfish, Alligator Gar, Redtail Catfish and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do black darter tetra tank mates need?

Start from Black Darter Tetra'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.