Harlequin Rasbora Tank Mates

Harlequin Rasbora is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 137 freshwater species that pair well with a harlequin rasbora — plus the 73 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

The best tank mates for a harlequin rasbora

  • Ember Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Neon Green Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °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 23–28 °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)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °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.
  • 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.
  • Assassin Snail ✅ 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.
  • Endler's Livebearer ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Glowlight Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • 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 23–27 °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; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °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)
    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)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Blue Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °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 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Glowlight Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °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)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Red Phantom Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Rosy 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.

Harlequin Rasbora tank mates that can work with care

  • Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Harlequin Rasbora 5.5–7 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    African Butterfly Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Harlequin Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
  • Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid clearly outsizes Harlequin Rasbora and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Adult Amano Shrimp might survive with Harlequin Rasbora, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
  • 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 is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Harlequin Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
  • Arrowhead Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 12 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Arrowhead Puffer is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Harlequin Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
  • Ash Lipped Apisto ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    Ash Lipped Apisto and Harlequin Rasbora are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add harlequin rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.

+ 122 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Fish to avoid keeping with a harlequin rasbora

  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Size gap is too large (300 vs 5 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Harlequin Rasbora as food.
  • Alligator Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Harlequin Rasbora is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Harlequin Rasbora is bite-sized to a 120 cm predatory redtail catfish — it will be eaten.
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Harlequin Rasbora is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 5 cm Harlequin Rasbora whole.
  • Koi ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (90 vs 5 cm): Koi will treat Harlequin Rasbora as food.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Spotted Gar (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 5 cm Harlequin Rasbora whole.
  • Wolf Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Harlequin Rasbora is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.

+ 65 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Check any fish against a harlequin rasbora

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

Will it live with a Harlequin Rasbora?

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

  • Adolf's Cory✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Axelrod's Cory✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, 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.
    • 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)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bloodfin Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5.5 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Bloodfin 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)
    • 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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • 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)
    • 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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • 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)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • 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 23–28 °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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • 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)
    • 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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • 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.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • 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)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Forktail Blue-eye in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Half-striped Penguin Tetra 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)
    • 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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Horseman Cory✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Horseman Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 10–28 °C (50–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora 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)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Julii Corydoras 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)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Masked Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Mystery Snail✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora 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)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Panda Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rummy-nose Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Rummy-nose Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Skunk Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Skunk Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Stoliczka's Barb✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Stoliczka's Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Xingu Black Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Zebra Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Zebra Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Amano Shrimp⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Adult Amano Shrimp might survive with Harlequin Rasbora, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Black Ruby Barb is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Harlequin Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Black Ruby Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Black Skirt Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Expect Black Skirt Tetra to harass Harlequin Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Black Skirt Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blue Turbo Snail⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Harlequin Rasbora 5.5–7 vs Blue Turbo Snail 7.5–8.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Desert Goby⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Desert Goby and Harlequin Rasbora are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add harlequin rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ 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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Dwarf Chain Loach in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Eastern Betta⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Eastern Betta and Harlequin Rasbora are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add harlequin rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • GloFish Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    • Expect GloFish Tetra to harass Harlequin Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep GloFish Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Humpbacked Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Humpbacked Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Harlequin Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • 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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Morse Code Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Odessa Barb⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Odessa Barb is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Harlequin Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Odessa Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Panda Loach⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–23 °C (64–73 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (5.5–7 vs 7.2–8.2); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Silvertip Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Expect Silvertip Tetra to harass Harlequin Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Silvertip Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotfin Betta⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Spotfin Betta is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Harlequin Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Striped Red-Eye Puffer⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Striped Red-Eye Puffer and Harlequin Rasbora are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add harlequin rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Wine Red Betta⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Wine Red Betta and Harlequin Rasbora are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add harlequin rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora 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)
    • Harlequin Rasbora is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
    • Alligator Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Harlequin Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 5 cm Harlequin Rasbora whole.
    • Expect Clown Knifefish to harass Harlequin Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Fire Eel⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Harlequin Rasbora is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
    • Fire Eel clearly outsizes Harlequin Rasbora 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 Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Koi⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (90 vs 5 cm): Koi will treat Harlequin Rasbora as food.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Harlequin Rasbora is bite-sized to a 120 cm predatory redtail catfish — it will be eaten.
    • Redtail Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Harlequin Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Spotted Gar (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 5 cm Harlequin Rasbora whole.
    • Expect Spotted Gar to harass Harlequin Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (300 vs 5 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Harlequin Rasbora as food.
    • Wels Catfish clearly outsizes Harlequin Rasbora and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Harlequin Rasbora is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
    • Wolf Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Harlequin Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ 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 harlequin rasbora 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 harlequin rasbora

As a peaceful species, harlequin rasbora 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.

Harlequin Rasbora grows to about 5 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 3 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 23–28 °C (73–82 °F), pH 5.5–7 and 1–10 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Harlequin Rasbora is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 6+ 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 harlequin rasbora live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 137 compatible freshwater species for harlequin rasbora. 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 harlequin rasbora?

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 a harlequin rasbora?

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 harlequin rasbora tank mates need?

Start from Harlequin Rasbora'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.