Serpae Tetra Tank Mates

• African Dwarf Frog✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Amano Shrimp✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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 Serpae Tetra 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.
• Black Phantom Tetra✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, 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 Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Black Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Blue Turbo Snail✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Keep Serpae 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)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; 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 Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; 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 Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, 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 Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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 Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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.
• Gold Tetra✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy 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.
  • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Gold Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Half-striped Penguin Tetra✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, 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 Serpae Tetra 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.
• Harlequin Rasbora✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy 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.
  • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • 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)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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.
• Japanese Trapdoor Snail✅ Compatible
  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 Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Lemon Tetra✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy 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.
  • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Lemon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Otocinclus✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Tailspotted Oto✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Keep Serpae 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 Otocinclus✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium 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 Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Tiger Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• X-ray Tetra✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; 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 Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Yellow Tetra✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Yellow Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Amapá Tetra⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
  • Serpae Tetra and Amapá Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add amapá tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Amapá Tetra 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)
  • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Blue Danio⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
  • Serpae Tetra and Blue Danio are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add blue danio in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Blue Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Blue Emperor Tetra⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
  • Expect Serpae Tetra to harass Blue Emperor Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Blue Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Cardinal Tetra⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
  • Serpae Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Cardinal Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Cardinal Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Emperor Tetra⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
  • Serpae Tetra and Emperor Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add emperor tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Flame Tetra⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
  • Serpae Tetra and Flame Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add flame tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Ghost Shrimp⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
  • Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Serpae Tetra, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Glowlight Tetra⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
  • Serpae Tetra and Glowlight Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add glowlight tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Glowlight Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Golden Dwarf Barb⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
  • Serpae Tetra and Golden Dwarf Barb are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add golden dwarf barb in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Golden Dwarf Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Jelly Bean Tetra⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
  • Expect Serpae Tetra to harass Jelly Bean Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Marbled Hatchetfish⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
  • Serpae Tetra and Marbled Hatchetfish are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add marbled hatchetfish in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Marbled Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Phoenix Tetra⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
  • Expect Serpae Tetra to harass Phoenix Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Phoenix Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Purple Tetra⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
  • Expect Serpae Tetra to harass Purple Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Purple Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Red Phantom Tetra⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
  • Expect Serpae Tetra to harass Red Phantom Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Red Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Rosy Tetra⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
  • Expect Serpae Tetra to harass Rosy Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keep Rosy Tetra 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)
  • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Serpae Tetra and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
  • Serpae Tetra is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
  • Alligator Gar is slow and long-finned; a busy serpae tetra shoal tends to nip at it. Keep serpae tetra in a proper group of 6+ and watch them closely.
  • Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Serpae Tetra and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Serpae Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
  • Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Serpae Tetra is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
  • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
  • Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Serpae Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
  • Serpae Tetra is a notorious fin-nipper — even though Koi is larger, an active shoal will harass its trailing fins. Only safe in a full group of 6+ with plenty of cover.
  • Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Serpae Tetra and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
  • Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Serpae Tetra whole.
  • Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Serpae Tetra and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
  • Size gap is too large (90 vs 4 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Serpae Tetra as food.
  • Spotted Gar is slow and long-finned; a busy serpae tetra shoal tends to nip at it. Keep serpae tetra in a proper group of 6+ and watch them closely.
  • Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Serpae Tetra and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
  • Serpae Tetra is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
  • Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Keep Serpae Tetra 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)
  • Serpae Tetra and Wolf Cichlid are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Serpae Tetra is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
  • Serpae Tetra is a notorious fin-nipper — even though Wolf Cichlid is larger, an active shoal will harass its trailing fins. Only safe in a full group of 6+ with plenty of cover.
  • Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Keep Serpae 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.