Nerite Snail Tank Mates
Nerite Snail is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 127 freshwater species that pair well with a nerite snail — plus the 0 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for a nerite snail
- Ember Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy 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 ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 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.
- Ramshorn Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °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 22–28 °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 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Assassin Snail ✅ 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.
- 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, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Glowlight Danio ✅ 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.
- Gold Ring Danio ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- 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.
- Neon Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Trinidad Guppy ✅ CompatibleEasy 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 ✅ 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)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Blue Danio ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Emperor Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Flame Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Ghost Shrimp ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Glowlight Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Golden Dwarf Barb ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- 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)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
Nerite Snail tank mates that can work with care
- Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Afra Cichlid clearly outsizes Nerite Snail and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)African Butterfly Cichlid clearly outsizes Nerite Snail and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Expect Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid to harass Nerite Snail at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Alligator Gar ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Alligator Gar clearly outsizes Nerite Snail and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Expect Altifrons Geophagus to harass Nerite Snail at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- 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)Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Nerite Snail — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Angelicus Synodontis ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)Expect Angelicus Synodontis to harass Nerite Snail at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
+ 205 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with a nerite snail
No outright no-gos among the species in our database yet — but always avoid fish much larger, much more aggressive, or needing very different water.
Check any fish against a nerite snail
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a nerite snail, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Tank-mate checker
Will it live with a Nerite Snail?
We compare each fish against your nerite snail 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)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Celestial Pearl Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 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.
- Keep Celestial Pearl Danio 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 Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Chili Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Chili Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ 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 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- 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, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Dwarf Spotted Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ember Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 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.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Emerald Dwarf Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Emerald Dwarf Danio 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, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Endler's Livebearer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Exclamation Point Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Exclamation Point Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Danio✅ 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 Glowlight Danio 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)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Gold Ring Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Lambchop Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- 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.
- Neon Green Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 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 Green Rasbora in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Neon Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °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.
- 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 Pygmy Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ramshorn Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Easy care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Red Lip Nerite Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Ruby Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 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.
- Keep Ruby Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Scarlet Badis✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 2 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Strawberry Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora 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)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Tail-spot Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Trinidad Guppy✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7–8.5 vs 3.5–6.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Nerite Snail 8–18 vs Black Darter Tetra 0–5 dGH).
- Black Darter Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Nerite Snail — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Cardinal Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Water hardness preferences differ (Nerite Snail 8–18 vs Cardinal Tetra 1–6 dGH).
- Keep Cardinal Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Chocolate Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7–8.5 vs 4–6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Nerite Snail 8–18 vs Chocolate Gourami 0–5 dGH).
- Keep Chocolate Gourami in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Crimson Red Betta⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Nerite Snail 7–8.5 vs Crimson Red Betta 4–6.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (8–18 vs 0–5 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Crystal Red Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Nerite Snail 7–8.5 vs Crystal Red Shrimp 6–6.8) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (8–18 vs 2–5 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Keep Crystal Red Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Red Licorice Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Nerite Snail 7–8.5 vs Fire Red Licorice Gourami 4–6.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (8–18 vs 0–4 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Green Neon Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7–8.5 vs 4.5–6.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Nerite Snail 8–18 vs Green Neon Tetra 0–4 dGH).
- Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Neon Blue Rasbora⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Nerite Snail 7–8.5 vs Neon Blue Rasbora 4–6.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (8–18 vs 1–6 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Keep Neon Blue Rasbora in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pea Puffer⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Pea Puffer is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Nerite Snail — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Purple Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7–8.5 vs 5.8–6.8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Keep Purple Tetra in a shoal of 8+ 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 Nerite Snail are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add nerite snail in a group to spread the pressure.
- 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 clearly outsizes Nerite Snail and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Keep Serpae 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)
- Expect Tiger Badis to harass Nerite Snail at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Tiger Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3 cm · Hard care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Water hardness preferences differ (Nerite Snail 8–18 vs Tiger Shrimp 0–6 dGH).
- Keep Tiger Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tucano Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 1.7 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7–8.5 vs 4.5–6.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Nerite Snail 8–18 vs Tucano Tetra 1–5 dGH).
- Keep Tucano Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wine Red Betta⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7–8.5 vs 4–6.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Nerite Snail 8–18 vs Wine Red Betta 0–4 dGH).
- Expect Wine Red Betta to harass Nerite Snail at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
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 nerite snail community tank
Give the group a stable, planted 75 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.
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How to choose the right tank mates for a nerite snail
As a peaceful species, nerite snail is easily bullied — favour other calm, non-nippy fish and steer clear of boisterous or aggressive tank mates. It ranges across the whole water column, so tank mates that keep to one level help reduce friction.
Nerite Snail 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 22–28 °C (72–82 °F), pH 7–8.5 and 8–18 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.
Nerite Snail doesn't need its own kind to feel secure; think twice before keeping more than one if it is territorial. 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 nerite snail live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 127 compatible freshwater species for nerite snail. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.
What is the best tank mate for a nerite snail?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Ember Tetra, Neon Green Rasbora, Ramshorn Snail. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with a nerite snail?
No outright no-gos in our current database, but always avoid fish that are much larger, much more aggressive, or that need very different water.
How big a tank do nerite snail tank mates need?
Start from Nerite Snail's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 75 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.