Green Neon Tetra Tank Mates

Green Neon Tetra is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 111 freshwater species that pair well with a green neon tetra — plus the 98 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 8, 2026 • Full Green Neon Tetra care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a green neon tetra

  • Ember Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Neon Green Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • 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.
  • Glowlight Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Gold Ring Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Neon Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Pygmy Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.2 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.
  • Glowlight Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • 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, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Ghost Shrimp ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Glowlight Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °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)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • 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.
  • Rosy Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Yellow Phantom Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Black Phantom Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4.5 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.
  • Gold Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Lemon Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • X-ray Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Axelrod's Cory ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Bandit Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
With caution

Green Neon 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)
    African Butterfly Cichlid clearly outsizes Green Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
  • African Dwarf Frog ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Green Neon Tetra 4.5–6.5 vs African Dwarf Frog 6.8–7.8) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    One likes softer water and the other harder (0–4 vs 6–15 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
  • 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 clearly outsizes Green Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
  • Assassin Snail ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Assassin Snail 8–20 dGH).
  • Banded Gourami ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Banded Gourami 5–15 dGH).
  • Bandit Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Expect Bandit Cichlid to harass Green Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.

+ 123 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a green neon tetra

  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Wels Catfish (300 cm) is big enough to swallow the 2.5 cm Green Neon Tetra whole.
  • Alligator Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 2.5 cm Green Neon Tetra whole.
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 2.5 cm Green Neon Tetra whole.
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (100 vs 2.5 cm): Fire Eel will treat Green Neon Tetra as food.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Green Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
  • Koi ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    Green Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Green Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
  • Wolf Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Green Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.

+ 90 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a green neon tetra

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

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Green Neon Tetra?

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

  • Blackwing Hatchetfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Blackwing Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Celestial Pearl Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2 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 middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Celestial Pearl Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Chili Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Chili Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ 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 Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Clown Killifish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Crimson Red Betta✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Crystal Red Shrimp✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Crystal Red Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ 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.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • 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)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Dwarf Spotted Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Ember Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Exclamation Point Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2 cm · Medium 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.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Exclamation Point Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Eyespot Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • 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)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Glowlight Danio 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, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Gold Ring Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Hummingbird Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 1.8 cm · Hard care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Hummingbird Tetra 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)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Lambchop Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Neon Blue Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Neon Blue Rasbora in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Neon Green Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Neon Green Rasbora in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Neon Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Pygmy Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.2 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 Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Pygmy Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Ruby Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Ruby Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Scarlet Badis✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 2 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Strawberry Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Strawberry Rasbora 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)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Tail-spot Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tiger Shrimp✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Hard care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Tiger Shrimp 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 (Green Neon Tetra 4.5–6.5 vs African Dwarf Frog 6.8–7.8) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • One likes softer water and the other harder (0–4 vs 5–12 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Assassin Snail⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Assassin Snail 8–20 dGH).
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    • Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Green Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Black Darter Tetra may hunt Green Neon Tetra, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blue Danio⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    • One likes softer water and the other harder (0–4 vs 5–15 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Blue Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Cherry Shrimp⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Cherry Shrimp 6–15 dGH).
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Emerald Dwarf Danio⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (4.5–6.5 vs 7–8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Emerald Dwarf Danio 5–12 dGH).
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Emerald Dwarf Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Endler's Livebearer⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (4.5–6.5 vs 7–8.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Endler's Livebearer 10–25 dGH).
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Endler's Livebearer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (4.5–6.5 vs 7–8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Malaysian Trumpet Snail 8–18 dGH).
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Nerite Snail⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 2.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (4.5–6.5 vs 7–8.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Nerite Snail 8–18 dGH).
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Pea Puffer⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Pea Puffer 5–15 dGH).
    • Expect Pea Puffer to harass Green Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rainbow Emperor Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Expect Rainbow Emperor Tetra to harass Green Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Rainbow Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Ramshorn Snail⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 2 cm · Easy care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Green Neon Tetra 4.5–6.5 vs Ramshorn Snail 7–8) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • One likes softer water and the other harder (0–4 vs 5–15 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Red Lip Nerite Snail⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 2 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (4.5–6.5 vs 7–8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Red Lip Nerite Snail 6–18 dGH).
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rummy Nose Rasbora⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (4.5–6.5 vs 7–8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Rummy Nose Rasbora 8–16 dGH).
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Serpae Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Serpae Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Green Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Trinidad Guppy⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (4.5–6.5 vs 6.6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Trinidad Guppy 5–15 dGH).
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 2.5 cm Green Neon Tetra whole.
    • pH preferences only just meet (Green Neon Tetra 4.5–6.5 vs Alligator Gar 6.8–7.8) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Alligator Gar clearly outsizes Green Neon Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Green Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Clown Knifefish 5–15 dGH).
    • Clown Knifefish clearly outsizes Green Neon Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Fire Eel⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (100 vs 2.5 cm): Fire Eel will treat Green Neon Tetra as food.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Fire Eel 5–15 dGH).
    • Fire Eel clearly outsizes Green Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Koi⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    • Green Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Koi 9–18 dGH).
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 2.5 cm Green Neon Tetra whole.
    • Redtail Catfish clearly outsizes Green Neon Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Green Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
    • Spotted Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Green Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    • Wels Catfish (300 cm) is big enough to swallow the 2.5 cm Green Neon Tetra whole.
    • One likes softer water and the other harder (0–4 vs 5–15 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
    • Expect Wels Catfish to harass Green Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Green Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
    • Different pH ranges (4.5–6.5 vs 7–8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (Green Neon Tetra 0–4 vs Wolf Cichlid 8–20 dGH).
    • Wolf Cichlid clearly outsizes Green Neon Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.

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 green neon 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

How to choose the right tank mates for a green neon tetra

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

Green Neon Tetra grows to about 2.5 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 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), pH 4.5–6.5 and 0–4 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Green Neon Tetra is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 8+ 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 a green neon tetra live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 111 compatible freshwater species for green neon 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 green neon tetra?

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

What fish should you avoid keeping with a green neon 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 green neon tetra tank mates need?

Start from Green Neon 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.

← Back to the full Green Neon Tetra care guide