Northern Glowlight Danio Tank Mates

Northern Glowlight Danio is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 136 freshwater species that pair well with a northern glowlight danio — plus the 96 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 8, 2026 • Full Northern Glowlight Danio care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a northern glowlight danio

  • 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)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Ramshorn Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 20–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 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.
  • Dawn Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Assassin Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Cherry Shrimp ✅ Compatible
    Easy 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 ✅ Compatible
    Easy 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 ✅ 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.
  • Gold Ring Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 18–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–24 °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 22–24 °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, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Glowlight Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.5 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.
  • Blue Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Emperor Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Flame 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.
  • Ghost Shrimp ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 18–24 °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; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • 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.
With caution

Northern Glowlight Danio tank mates that can work with care

  • African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Expect African Butterfly Cichlid to harass Northern Glowlight Danio at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Amazon Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Angelfish ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Angelfish clearly outsizes Northern Glowlight Danio and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
  • Ash Lipped Apisto ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    Ash Lipped Apisto is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Northern Glowlight Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
  • Badis ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Expect Badis to harass Northern Glowlight Danio at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Banded Dwarf Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Expect Banded Dwarf Cichlid to harass Northern Glowlight Danio at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Banded Gourami ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Banded Gourami clearly outsizes Northern Glowlight Danio and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
  • Bandit Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Expect Bandit Cichlid to harass Northern Glowlight Danio at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.

+ 100 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a northern glowlight danio

  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Northern Glowlight Danio is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
  • Alligator Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (250 vs 3.5 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Northern Glowlight Danio as food.
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Size gap is too large (120 vs 3.5 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Northern Glowlight Danio as food.
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3.5 cm Northern Glowlight Danio whole.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3.5 cm Northern Glowlight Danio whole.
  • Koi ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3.5 cm Northern Glowlight Danio whole.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Size gap is too large (90 vs 3.5 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Northern Glowlight Danio as food.
  • Wolf Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Northern Glowlight Danio is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.

+ 88 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a northern glowlight danio

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

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Northern Glowlight Danio?

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

  • African Dwarf Frog✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Amapá Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Amapá Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blackwing Hatchetfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio 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.
  • Blue Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–24 °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 Northern Glowlight Danio 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.
  • Blue Emperor Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium 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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Blue Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Cardinal Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–24 °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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Cardinal Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Killifish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio 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)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Emperor Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–24 °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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ 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 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 Northern Glowlight Danio 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.
  • Fire Red Licorice Gourami✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–24 °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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Flame Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Ghost Shrimp✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 18–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Glowlight Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Easy 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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Glowlight Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Glowlight Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Glowlight Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Golden Dwarf Barb✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 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.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Golden Dwarf Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Jelly Bean Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 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.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Marbled Hatchetfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Marbled Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Otocinclus✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Phoenix Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy 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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Phoenix Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Purple Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Purple Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Pygmy Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3.2 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio 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.
  • Red Phantom Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Red Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tailspotted Oto✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Tailspotted Oto in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    • Black Darter Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Northern Glowlight Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ 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 clearly outsizes Northern Glowlight Danio and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ 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)
    • Black Skirt Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Northern Glowlight Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Black Skirt Tetra 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 clearly outsizes Northern Glowlight Danio and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ 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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ 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 is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Northern Glowlight Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Northern Glowlight Danio is small enough to tempt Eastern Betta; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • GloFish Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    • GloFish Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Northern Glowlight Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ 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 and Northern Glowlight Danio are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add northern glowlight danio in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ 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 Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ 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 caution
    Semi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Rainbow Emperor Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Northern Glowlight Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio 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.
  • 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 Northern Glowlight Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio 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.
  • Silvertip Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Expect Silvertip Tetra to harass Northern Glowlight Danio at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ 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 Northern Glowlight Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ 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 is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Northern Glowlight Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tiger Badis⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–24 °C (72–75 °F)
    • Expect Tiger Badis to harass Northern Glowlight Danio at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ 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 is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Northern Glowlight Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio 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)
    • Size gap is too large (250 vs 3.5 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Northern Glowlight Danio as food.
    • Alligator Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Northern Glowlight Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio 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)
    • Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3.5 cm Northern Glowlight Danio whole.
    • Expect Clown Knifefish to harass Northern Glowlight Danio 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 Northern Glowlight Danio 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)
    • Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3.5 cm Northern Glowlight Danio whole.
    • Fire Eel clearly outsizes Northern Glowlight Danio 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 Northern Glowlight Danio 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)
    • Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3.5 cm Northern Glowlight Danio whole.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio 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)
    • Size gap is too large (120 vs 3.5 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Northern Glowlight Danio as food.
    • Expect Redtail Catfish to harass Northern Glowlight Danio at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio 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)
    • Size gap is too large (90 vs 3.5 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Northern Glowlight Danio as food.
    • Spotted Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Northern Glowlight Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio 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)
    • Northern Glowlight Danio is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
    • Wels Catfish clearly outsizes Northern Glowlight Danio 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 Northern Glowlight Danio 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)
    • Northern Glowlight Danio is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
    • Expect Wolf Cichlid to harass Northern Glowlight Danio at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Northern Glowlight Danio 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 northern glowlight danio 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 northern glowlight danio

As a peaceful species, northern glowlight danio 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.

Northern Glowlight Danio grows to about 3.5 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 18–24 °C (64–75 °F), pH 6.5–7.5 and 2–12 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Northern Glowlight Danio 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 northern glowlight danio live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 136 compatible freshwater species for northern glowlight danio. 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 northern glowlight danio?

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 northern glowlight danio?

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 northern glowlight danio tank mates need?

Start from Northern Glowlight Danio'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 Northern Glowlight Danio care guide