Neon Tetra Tank Mates
Neon Tetra is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 139 freshwater species that pair well with a neon tetra — plus the 93 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for a neon tetra
- Ember Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Neon Green Rasbora ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 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.
- Ramshorn Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 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.
- Dawn Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 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.
- Nerite Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 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.
- Assassin Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 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.
- Cherry Shrimp ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 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.
- Endler's Livebearer ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 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 ✅ CompatibleEasy 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 ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 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.
- Trinidad Guppy ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Pygmy Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy 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 ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Blue Danio ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 21–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Emperor Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy 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 ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 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.
- Ghost Shrimp ✅ CompatibleEasy 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 ✅ CompatibleEasy 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 ✅ CompatibleEasy 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 ✅ CompatibleEasy 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 ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 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.
Neon Tetra tank mates that can work with care
- African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)African Butterfly Cichlid clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Amazon Puffer ⚠️ With cautionMedium 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 cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Expect Angelfish to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Ash Lipped Apisto ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)Ash Lipped Apisto clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Banded Dwarf Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Expect Banded Dwarf Cichlid to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Banded Gourami ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Banded Gourami is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Bandit Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Bandit Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Bearded Corydoras ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
+ 100 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with a neon tetra
- Wels Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)Size gap is too large (300 vs 3 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Neon Tetra as food.
- Alligator Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3 cm Neon Tetra whole.
- Redtail Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Size gap is too large (120 vs 3 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Neon Tetra as food.
- Fire Eel ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3 cm Neon Tetra whole.
- Clown Knifefish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
- Koi ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3 cm Neon Tetra whole.
- Spotted Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
- Wolf Cichlid ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Wolf Cichlid (72 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3 cm Neon Tetra whole.
+ 85 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.
Check any fish against a neon tetra
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a neon tetra, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Will it live with a Neon Tetra?
We compare each fish against your neon tetra on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Assassin Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blackwing Hatchetfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blackwing Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cherry Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 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.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Killifish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Clown Killifish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Crimson Red Betta✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Crystal Red Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Crystal Red Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dawn Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Easy 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dawn Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Spotted Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dwarf Spotted Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Endler's Livebearer✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Endler's Livebearer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Eyespot Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium 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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Red Licorice Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Gold Ring Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–26 °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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Gold Ring Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Green Neon Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Lambchop Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Lambchop Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Neon Blue Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Neon Blue Rasbora in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Northern Glowlight Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 20–24 °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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pygmy Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Pygmy Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tail-spot Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tail-spot Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tailspotted Oto✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tailspotted Oto in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tiger Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Trinidad Guppy✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–24 °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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Black Ruby Barb clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Watch for Black Ruby Barb picking off any neon tetra small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra 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 cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Black Skirt Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Watch for Black Skirt Tetra picking off any neon tetra small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Keep Neon Tetra 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.
- Desert Goby⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Expect Desert Goby to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Desert Goby may hunt Neon Tetra, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Chain Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 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 Neon Tetra 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 cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Eastern Betta clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Eastern Betta may hunt Neon Tetra, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- GloFish Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- GloFish Tetra clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Neon Tetra is small enough to tempt GloFish Tetra; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Neon Tetra 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 cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Humpbacked Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Neon Tetra is small enough to tempt Humpbacked Tetra; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra 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 cautionPeaceful · 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 Neon Tetra 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.
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra and Neon Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add neon tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rainbow Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Serpae Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Serpae Tetra and Neon Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add neon tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Silvertip Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Silvertip Tetra to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Neon Tetra 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 cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Spotfin Betta clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Neon Tetra is small enough to tempt Spotfin Betta; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Striped Red-Eye Puffer⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Striped Red-Eye Puffer to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Neon Tetra is small enough to tempt Striped Red-Eye Puffer; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Badis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–24 °C (72–75 °F)
- Tiger Badis is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wine Red Betta⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Wine Red Betta is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Neon Tetra is small enough to tempt Wine Red Betta; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3 cm Neon Tetra whole.
- Alligator Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
- Expect Clown Knifefish to harass Neon Tetra 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 Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3 cm Neon Tetra whole.
- Expect Fire Eel to harass Neon Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3 cm Neon Tetra whole.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Size gap is too large (120 vs 3 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Neon Tetra as food.
- Redtail Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Neon Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
- Spotted Gar clearly outsizes Neon Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Size gap is too large (300 vs 3 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Neon Tetra as food.
- Wels Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Neon Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Wolf Cichlid (72 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3 cm Neon Tetra whole.
- Wolf Cichlid clearly outsizes 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 Neon Tetra 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 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 the right tank mates for a neon tetra
As a peaceful species, 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.
Neon Tetra 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 20–26 °C (68–79 °F), pH 4–7.5 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.
Neon Tetra 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 neon tetra live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 139 compatible freshwater species for 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 neon tetra?
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 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 neon tetra tank mates need?
Start from 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.