X-ray Tetra Tank Mates
X-ray Tetra is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 140 freshwater species that pair well with a x-ray tetra — plus the 76 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for a x-ray tetra
- Ember Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Neon Green Rasbora ✅ 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)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- 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)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Nerite Snail ✅ 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.
- 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)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- 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; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- 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)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- 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)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- 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.
- Glowlight Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Golden Dwarf Barb ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Phoenix Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- 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.
- Rosy 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.
X-ray Tetra tank mates that can work with care
- Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)pH preferences only just meet (X-ray Tetra 6–7.5 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)African Butterfly Cichlid clearly outsizes X-ray Tetra 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)Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller X-ray Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- 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 clearly outsizes X-ray Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Ash Lipped Apisto ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Semi-aggressive · 7 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)Ash Lipped Apisto and X-ray Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add x-ray tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Auratus Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Aggressive · 11 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.6–8.8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Badis ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Badis is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller X-ray Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
+ 116 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with a x-ray tetra
- Wels Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)Size gap is too large (300 vs 4.5 cm): Wels Catfish will treat X-ray Tetra as food.
- Alligator Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Size gap is too large (250 vs 4.5 cm): Alligator Gar will treat X-ray Tetra as food.
- Redtail Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4.5 cm X-ray Tetra whole.
- Fire Eel ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)X-ray Tetra is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
- Clown Knifefish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)X-ray 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)Size gap is too large (90 vs 4.5 cm): Koi will treat X-ray Tetra as food.
- Spotted Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)X-ray 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 4.5 cm X-ray Tetra whole.
+ 68 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.
Check any fish against a x-ray tetra
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a x-ray tetra, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Will it live with a X-ray Tetra?
We compare each fish against your x-ray tetra on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Amano Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Axelrod's Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 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.
- Keep X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Checkered Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °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 X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, 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 X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °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 X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, 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 X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 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 X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep X-ray 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.
- Honey Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Horseman Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Medium 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 X-ray 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 10–28 °C (50–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Julii Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Julii Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Lemon Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 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 X-ray 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.
- Masked Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 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 X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Masked Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Mystery Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 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.
- Keep X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Panda Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Medium 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 X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Panda Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Yellow Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °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 X-ray 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.
- Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Black Ruby Barb is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller X-ray Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep X-ray 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 X-ray Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep X-ray 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)
- Desert Goby is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller X-ray Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep X-ray 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 X-ray 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 is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller X-ray Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ghost Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- X-ray Tetra may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep X-ray 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.
- GloFish Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- GloFish Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller X-ray Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep X-ray 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)
- Expect Humpbacked Tetra to harass X-ray Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep X-ray 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 X-ray 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.
- Odessa Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Odessa Barb is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller X-ray Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Odessa Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Peaceful Betta⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Peaceful Betta to harass X-ray Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep X-ray 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 X-ray Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep X-ray 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.
- Smaragd Betta⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Expect Smaragd Betta to harass X-ray Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep X-ray 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 and X-ray Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add x-ray tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep X-ray 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)
- Striped Red-Eye Puffer is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller X-ray Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep X-ray 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)
- Expect Wine Red Betta to harass X-ray Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep X-ray 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)
- Size gap is too large (250 vs 4.5 cm): Alligator Gar will treat X-ray Tetra as food.
- Alligator Gar clearly outsizes X-ray Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep X-ray 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)
- X-ray Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
- Clown Knifefish clearly outsizes X-ray Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep X-ray 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)
- X-ray Tetra is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
- Expect Fire Eel to harass X-ray 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 X-ray 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)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 4.5 cm): Koi will treat X-ray Tetra as food.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep X-ray 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)
- Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4.5 cm X-ray Tetra whole.
- Expect Redtail Catfish to harass X-ray Tetra 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 X-ray 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)
- X-ray Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
- Spotted Gar clearly outsizes X-ray 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 X-ray 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 4.5 cm): Wels Catfish will treat X-ray Tetra as food.
- Wels Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller X-ray 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 X-ray 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 4.5 cm X-ray Tetra whole.
- Wolf Cichlid clearly outsizes X-ray 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 X-ray 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 x-ray 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 x-ray tetra
As a peaceful species, x-ray 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.
X-ray Tetra grows to about 4.5 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 6–7.5 and 2–15 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.
X-ray 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 x-ray tetra live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 140 compatible freshwater species for x-ray 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 x-ray 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 x-ray 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 x-ray tetra tank mates need?
Start from X-ray 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.