14 Good Neon Tetra Tank Mates for Community Tank
Size: 1.5 inches
Lifespan: 5 to 8 years
Minimum Tank Size: 15 to 20 gallons
Water Temperature: 73 to 82°F
pH: 6.0 to 7.6
Diet: Omnivore
Minimum School Size: 6 to 12
Lifespan: 5 to 8 years
Minimum Tank Size: 15 to 20 gallons
Water Temperature: 73 to 82°F
pH: 6.0 to 7.6
Diet: Omnivore
Minimum School Size: 6 to 12
Neon Tetra Tank Mates
Neon tetras are calm and peaceful fishes. They don't tend to fight against bullying.It is important to choose neon tetra tank mates with proper research and study.
Good tank mates don't create any unnecessary problems in the tank for tetras.
Guppies are one of the most popular tropical fishes in the world. To believe they are widely available in every continent on the planet except Antarctica.
They are fun-loving peaceful fishes. They match most of their requirement with the tetras. Moreover, they are beautiful and colorful. They will make your tank more vibrant than ever.
Guppies are good for beginners as they are not fussing eater and can draft to a wide range of water temperatures. They are omnivores, so they can survive to eat both plants and animals.
These dull silvery colored fishes are found in the streams of Mexico. These are a very calm type of fishes.
1. Guppies
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| Credits: Own Work, Per Harald Olsen |
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: 2.4 inches
Temperature: 72 to 84 °F
PH: 7 to 7.4
Guppies are one of the most popular tropical fishes in the world. To believe they are widely available in every continent on the planet except Antarctica.
They are fun-loving peaceful fishes. They match most of their requirement with the tetras. Moreover, they are beautiful and colorful. They will make your tank more vibrant than ever.
Guppies are good for beginners as they are not fussing eater and can draft to a wide range of water temperatures. They are omnivores, so they can survive to eat both plants and animals.
2. Mollies
Difficulty: Beginners
Size: 3 to 6
Temperature: 70 to 85 °F
PH: 6.7 to 8.5
These dull silvery colored fishes are found in the streams of Mexico. These are a very calm type of fishes.
Sometimes the male mollies could be a little aggressive but most of the time they are harmless and don't cause any trouble in the tank.
Mollies can adapt to a vast band of the week templates that can easily adapt to sudden changes in their environment.
Mollies favorite food is fish flakes they will do just fine with them. If you want to give some extra nutrients and vitamins they consider giving fresh vegetables, live and frozen food.
Crush the vegetable and live food in small pieces or make a thick paste so they can easily digest their healthy meal.
Mollies can adapt to a vast band of the week templates that can easily adapt to sudden changes in their environment.
Mollies favorite food is fish flakes they will do just fine with them. If you want to give some extra nutrients and vitamins they consider giving fresh vegetables, live and frozen food.
Crush the vegetable and live food in small pieces or make a thick paste so they can easily digest their healthy meal.
3. African Dwarf Frogs
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| Credits: James Gathany |
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: 1 to 3 inches
Temperature: 72 to 82 °F
PH: 5 to 7.8
It might seem wrong but believe me with these frogs in your aquarium you can go wrong. These dwarf frogs are active swimmer and rarely sits quietly at one spot. Sometimes they stretch their limbs and float on the surface like a death but it's completely normal to do so.
Most of the time dwarf frogs are calm and peaceful but when they are hungry they can eat smaller fishes. To avoid this try give them food on time to time basis.
These frogs love sleeping nad can sleep for 12 hrs staring without disturbance. Most of the time they found on the bottom of thank where they feel safe from the predators.
Strangely the dwarf frogs are completely aquatic meaning they don't need dry land to live but they don't possess gills instead they have lungs and for that reason every once in a while, they have to go to the surface for taking fresh air. So make sure that you don't cover the aquarium.
They are low maintenance creature who needs little maintenance to survive in the take also they are capable of bearing a wide range of water parameter and water temperatures.
They are scavengers so they can eat everything living, dying, or dead. They have strong claws and legs with their help they can tear large food particles too small and directly gulp them.
The dwarf frogs meat water thus loves to eat frozen food like brine shrimps, chicken breast, etc. When you feed them to make sure that they finish their food because fishes can move much faster than the frogs and can snitch their food. To avoid this situation distract fishes by feeding them fish flakes on the other side of the tank.
Angles fishes are good friends with tetras as they share the same habitable conditions and food. One thing to keep in mind is that angles fish are kind of aggressive not with tetras but with some other fish species.
So, before you choose them for the community tank check their compatibility with other fishes in the tank.
They like to enjoy packed foid like fish flake and pellets etc. While live and frozen food won't hurt them once a week. Especially they enjoy eating frozen blood worms once in a while for their diet.
Angle fishes are great pick to create a dramatic large fin play in your tank with its companion neon tetras. These fishes are members of the Cichlidae family.
They are found in the Amazon Basin, Orinoco Basin, and other various rivers in Guiana in South Africa.
These fishes could get quite big so try to keep them in large tanks with enough plants and vegetation to comfort them. Gravel and decorative rocks could also be used to create a proper home for them with sufficient hideouts where they can rest.
Loaches are narrow-bodied fish species with strips on them. They are a type of scavenger fish, keeping them with tetras could be a great idea. As they get very well with other fishes.
Loaches are very friendly and don't like to live alone. They enjoy the company of other neon tetra tank mates.
Loaches are found in various variety some of them good for your tank are:
Kuhli
YoYo
Horseface
Weather
Clown
Zebra
They also help to clean up the tank as they feed on algae and leftover food of others. They can survive upon them but try to give them a separate diet as it wi help them grow healthier.
A lot of times they get nervous so a good hiding space is a must for them to sustain in the tank. Build a tunnel, use large leave plants to help them to hide.
These cute little neon tetras look alike are often confused for neon tetras. To identify them they can simply look at their stripes.
As stripes on neon tetras go only halfway through the body and have less vibrant blue stripe.
Cardinals are good companions for tetras as not only their names and looks are similar to their diet and living habitats are quite similar to the tetras.
Cardinals need a high nutrient diet to survive. Fish flakes and pellets with frozen and live food could a good for feeding them.
These fish species are rather small and can't defend themselves on their own, so keeping them in a group of 6 - 10 would be a better choice.
Their small size also makes them vulnerable to big fishes, as they might mistake them as their food. To prevent this mishap get a nice hiding spots in the tank.
Cardinals are quite energetic fishes so to utilize it give them proper swimming space in the tank.
Cory catfish are also known as the cory cat. They are easily available in local pet shops and is popular among beginner fish keeper.
They are a great addition to the community that as they don't possess and harm to their fellow fishers.
Cory catfishes are also famous for their strong caged structure of bones. The average lifespan of cory is about 20 years in total.
Cory cats are bottom feeders and as they also help to clean the tank by eating the waste generated by leftover food by others.
While cory cats can eat leftover but they can't entirely sustain on them. A complete diet of fish flake and pellets is what they need on a day to day basis to be healthy.
Ghost shrimps are also known as glass shrimps. They are widely available everywhere in the world.
It is true that they can survive the leftover food but it would be good for their health if you can feed them separately died like fish flakes and pellets.
As of now, you may understand the purpose of the glass body of these shrimps, it helps them to hide from their predator fishes.
The glass body of them also add a different identity to the tank. It's amazing that you can see through the body. These can become an attraction magnet for your tank if used properly.
They are easy to keep and are considered as good mates for tetras as they are not harmful to tetras.
Ghost shrimps can also make the job of tank cleaning a bit easier as they are scavengers. So they will clean all the uneaten food from the tank for you. In this way, the tank will look clearer.
As of tetras, they can operate happily on their own. You don't have to put them in group one shrimp could be sufficient.
Apple snails are often known as golden apple snails. The addition of these algae eater in thanks will keep the environment algae free for other mates.
These snails are easy to take care of and perfectly go with many fish species and considered as good neon tetra tank mates.
They are quite big in size compared to other snails. Despite their size, they don't harm any of their tank mates.
Apple snail is an herbivore and can eat any of the plants and vegetables paired with fish flake. One thing that can bother you about this golden snails that they eat a lot of food.
If they don't get their belly full they can start to eat the decorative plants in the tank. So if you want to add this beautiful golden snail to your tank make sure that you have enough food supply for them.
After feeding the thing they like the most is to multiply. I mean breeding, they also breed a lot if they are given a proper environment and food they could increase their population at a rapid pace.
They are also quite big so only introduce them in big tanks so they don't occupy the same meant for others.
Halfbreaks are freshwater fishes mostly found in Asia. They like to live in slightly warmer water as do neon tetras. They have lots in common with tetras which makes them a good tank mates for neon tetras.
Halfbreaks are carnivores just like tetras and they enjoy eating various types of food like fish flakes, pellets, and insects. Frozen and live food like shrimps and chicken breasts could also be served.
Halfbreaks are quite calm and harmless. In some cases when they don't get proper food they tend to eat small fishes in the tank. Use them with caution to avoid any such incidents in your tank.
Most of the freshwater halfbeaks are found in gray, silver, brown, and tan.
These fishes got their interesting name from the harlequins costume resemblance to their black mark. They are found in colors like orange, red, and blue with a black stripe on the body.
Rasboras don't get very well with big fishes as they are very shy in nature. The need plants and rocks to constantly hide from socializing with other fishes.
They get along very well with tetras that they share the same habitat and diet. Rasboras can eat anything from planta to insects. Fish flakes and pellets combined with brine shrimps and vegetables are best.
Rasboras all like to live in groups. You will find a single rasboras very unhappy and annoyed in the tank. It could change if they are in a group. The bigger the group the happier these creatures will be.
Pleco is commonly used to address this fish. It comes from a catfish family known as armored catfish.
Pelco is scavenger so they will help to clean up the tank by eating g all the leftover food at the bottom.
Catfishes are available in various varieties so of them are aggressive and some are not suitable for small tanks. It is important to choose the right one for your tank.
Pelcos are nor aggressive nor they grow too big to out space the neighbors. They are just perfect for community tanks.
Despite the fact that they can eat algae that doesn't mean they no longer need proper food like others. To ensure that they get proper nutrition to combine fish flakes with vegetables and bloodworms for their feeding.
Pelcos also like to have a space where they can hide from others and not associate with others.
Rosy barbs get their name from the bright pink color they possess. Rosy barbs are generally found in the Bangladesh region of Asia.
Barbs get very well with neon tetras as of their similar compatibilities for water conditions and feeding habits.
Rosy barbs are not aggressive in nature and don't make trouble in the tank. The one thing you should know is barbs like to live in groups. Less than 6 barbs won't survive for a longer period.
Rosy barbs are not a fussy eater they can eat various foods from vegetables to insects. Commercial fish food combined with frozen and live food will enhance overall health.
Dwarf Gouramis are found in South Asia especially in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Their natural habitat is slow running rivers with plenty of vegetation.
Male Gouramis are found with diagonal stripes of red and blue while females are of silver color.
Dwarf gouramis are peaceful creatures and not create any disturbance in the tank. It is an overall good candidate for choosing as neon tetra tank mates.
They tend to perform very poorly in-tank with large fishes like Cichlid, Betta, etc.
They are omnivore in n, nature thus enjoys to eat many food varieties like vegetables, flakes, pellets, live and frozen food items.
Neon Tetra Keeping Tips
Neon tetras are small little colorful fishes naturally found near the Amazon Basins. They are extremely sensitive to change in their environment and habitat. In their natural habitat, they live under the streams covered with leaves.
Therefore a little amount of light reaches them. So, for this reason, they are evolved to live in a darker place. If you leave them under bright light they may be killed within hours.
Tetras also like to live in a group (minimum of 6) if you keep less than that they may feel stressed and in the end, they may die overnight.
Most of the time dwarf frogs are calm and peaceful but when they are hungry they can eat smaller fishes. To avoid this try give them food on time to time basis.
These frogs love sleeping nad can sleep for 12 hrs staring without disturbance. Most of the time they found on the bottom of thank where they feel safe from the predators.
Strangely the dwarf frogs are completely aquatic meaning they don't need dry land to live but they don't possess gills instead they have lungs and for that reason every once in a while, they have to go to the surface for taking fresh air. So make sure that you don't cover the aquarium.
They are low maintenance creature who needs little maintenance to survive in the take also they are capable of bearing a wide range of water parameter and water temperatures.
They are scavengers so they can eat everything living, dying, or dead. They have strong claws and legs with their help they can tear large food particles too small and directly gulp them.
The dwarf frogs meat water thus loves to eat frozen food like brine shrimps, chicken breast, etc. When you feed them to make sure that they finish their food because fishes can move much faster than the frogs and can snitch their food. To avoid this situation distract fishes by feeding them fish flakes on the other side of the tank.
4. Angel Fish
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| Credits: Mendel |
Difficulty: Intermediate
Size: Up to 6 inches
Temperature: 78 to 84 °F
PH: 8 to 7.8
Angles fishes are good friends with tetras as they share the same habitable conditions and food. One thing to keep in mind is that angles fish are kind of aggressive not with tetras but with some other fish species.
So, before you choose them for the community tank check their compatibility with other fishes in the tank.
They like to enjoy packed foid like fish flake and pellets etc. While live and frozen food won't hurt them once a week. Especially they enjoy eating frozen blood worms once in a while for their diet.
Angle fishes are great pick to create a dramatic large fin play in your tank with its companion neon tetras. These fishes are members of the Cichlidae family.
They are found in the Amazon Basin, Orinoco Basin, and other various rivers in Guiana in South Africa.
These fishes could get quite big so try to keep them in large tanks with enough plants and vegetation to comfort them. Gravel and decorative rocks could also be used to create a proper home for them with sufficient hideouts where they can rest.
6. Loach
| Fishkeeping World |
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: 4 to 12 inches
Temperature: 60 to 77 °F
PH: 7 to 8.5
Loaches are narrow-bodied fish species with strips on them. They are a type of scavenger fish, keeping them with tetras could be a great idea. As they get very well with other fishes.
Loaches are very friendly and don't like to live alone. They enjoy the company of other neon tetra tank mates.
Loaches are found in various variety some of them good for your tank are:
Kuhli
YoYo
Horseface
Weather
Clown
Zebra
They also help to clean up the tank as they feed on algae and leftover food of others. They can survive upon them but try to give them a separate diet as it wi help them grow healthier.
A lot of times they get nervous so a good hiding space is a must for them to sustain in the tank. Build a tunnel, use large leave plants to help them to hide.
6. Cardinal Tetras
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: 2 inches
Temperature: 79 to 82 °F
PH: 6 to 7
These cute little neon tetras look alike are often confused for neon tetras. To identify them they can simply look at their stripes.
As stripes on neon tetras go only halfway through the body and have less vibrant blue stripe.
Cardinals are good companions for tetras as not only their names and looks are similar to their diet and living habitats are quite similar to the tetras.
Cardinals need a high nutrient diet to survive. Fish flakes and pellets with frozen and live food could a good for feeding them.
These fish species are rather small and can't defend themselves on their own, so keeping them in a group of 6 - 10 would be a better choice.
Their small size also makes them vulnerable to big fishes, as they might mistake them as their food. To prevent this mishap get a nice hiding spots in the tank.
Cardinals are quite energetic fishes so to utilize it give them proper swimming space in the tank.
7. Cory Catfish
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: 1 to 3 inches
Temperature: 70 to 80 °F
PH: 7 to 8
Cory catfish are also known as the cory cat. They are easily available in local pet shops and is popular among beginner fish keeper.
They are a great addition to the community that as they don't possess and harm to their fellow fishers.
Cory catfishes are also famous for their strong caged structure of bones. The average lifespan of cory is about 20 years in total.
Cory cats are bottom feeders and as they also help to clean the tank by eating the waste generated by leftover food by others.
While cory cats can eat leftover but they can't entirely sustain on them. A complete diet of fish flake and pellets is what they need on a day to day basis to be healthy.
8. Ghost Shrimp
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: 1 to 2 inches
Temperature: 72 to 82 °F
PH: 7 to 8
Ghost shrimps are also known as glass shrimps. They are widely available everywhere in the world.
It is true that they can survive the leftover food but it would be good for their health if you can feed them separately died like fish flakes and pellets.
As of now, you may understand the purpose of the glass body of these shrimps, it helps them to hide from their predator fishes.
The glass body of them also add a different identity to the tank. It's amazing that you can see through the body. These can become an attraction magnet for your tank if used properly.
They are easy to keep and are considered as good mates for tetras as they are not harmful to tetras.
Ghost shrimps can also make the job of tank cleaning a bit easier as they are scavengers. So they will clean all the uneaten food from the tank for you. In this way, the tank will look clearer.
As of tetras, they can operate happily on their own. You don't have to put them in group one shrimp could be sufficient.
9. Apple Snails
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: 1 to 2 inches
Temperature: 70 to 80 °F
PH: 6.5 to 8
Apple snails are often known as golden apple snails. The addition of these algae eater in thanks will keep the environment algae free for other mates.
These snails are easy to take care of and perfectly go with many fish species and considered as good neon tetra tank mates.
They are quite big in size compared to other snails. Despite their size, they don't harm any of their tank mates.
Apple snail is an herbivore and can eat any of the plants and vegetables paired with fish flake. One thing that can bother you about this golden snails that they eat a lot of food.
If they don't get their belly full they can start to eat the decorative plants in the tank. So if you want to add this beautiful golden snail to your tank make sure that you have enough food supply for them.
After feeding the thing they like the most is to multiply. I mean breeding, they also breed a lot if they are given a proper environment and food they could increase their population at a rapid pace.
They are also quite big so only introduce them in big tanks so they don't occupy the same meant for others.
10. Halfbeaks
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: 2 to 3 inches
Temperature: 75 to 82 °F
PH: 6.8 to 7.5
Halfbreaks are freshwater fishes mostly found in Asia. They like to live in slightly warmer water as do neon tetras. They have lots in common with tetras which makes them a good tank mates for neon tetras.
Halfbreaks are carnivores just like tetras and they enjoy eating various types of food like fish flakes, pellets, and insects. Frozen and live food like shrimps and chicken breasts could also be served.
Halfbreaks are quite calm and harmless. In some cases when they don't get proper food they tend to eat small fishes in the tank. Use them with caution to avoid any such incidents in your tank.
Most of the freshwater halfbeaks are found in gray, silver, brown, and tan.
11. Harlequins Rasboras
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: 1 to 2 inches
Temperature: 72 to 82 °F
PH: 5 to 7.5
These fishes got their interesting name from the harlequins costume resemblance to their black mark. They are found in colors like orange, red, and blue with a black stripe on the body.
Rasboras don't get very well with big fishes as they are very shy in nature. The need plants and rocks to constantly hide from socializing with other fishes.
They get along very well with tetras that they share the same habitat and diet. Rasboras can eat anything from planta to insects. Fish flakes and pellets combined with brine shrimps and vegetables are best.
Rasboras all like to live in groups. You will find a single rasboras very unhappy and annoyed in the tank. It could change if they are in a group. The bigger the group the happier these creatures will be.
12. Plecostomus
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: up to 24 inches
Temperature: 72 to 84 °F
PH: 7 to 8
Pleco is commonly used to address this fish. It comes from a catfish family known as armored catfish.
Pelco is scavenger so they will help to clean up the tank by eating g all the leftover food at the bottom.
Catfishes are available in various varieties so of them are aggressive and some are not suitable for small tanks. It is important to choose the right one for your tank.
Pelcos are nor aggressive nor they grow too big to out space the neighbors. They are just perfect for community tanks.
Despite the fact that they can eat algae that doesn't mean they no longer need proper food like others. To ensure that they get proper nutrition to combine fish flakes with vegetables and bloodworms for their feeding.
Pelcos also like to have a space where they can hide from others and not associate with others.
13. Rosy Barbs
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: up to 6 inches
Temperature: 64 to 72 °F
PH: 6 to 8
Rosy barbs get their name from the bright pink color they possess. Rosy barbs are generally found in the Bangladesh region of Asia.
Barbs get very well with neon tetras as of their similar compatibilities for water conditions and feeding habits.
Rosy barbs are not aggressive in nature and don't make trouble in the tank. The one thing you should know is barbs like to live in groups. Less than 6 barbs won't survive for a longer period.
Rosy barbs are not a fussy eater they can eat various foods from vegetables to insects. Commercial fish food combined with frozen and live food will enhance overall health.
14. Dwarf Gouramis
Difficulty: Beginner
Size: 2 to 3.5 inches
Temperature: 75 to 80 °F
PH: 6.8 to 7.8
Dwarf Gouramis are found in South Asia especially in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Their natural habitat is slow running rivers with plenty of vegetation.
Male Gouramis are found with diagonal stripes of red and blue while females are of silver color.
Dwarf gouramis are peaceful creatures and not create any disturbance in the tank. It is an overall good candidate for choosing as neon tetra tank mates.
They tend to perform very poorly in-tank with large fishes like Cichlid, Betta, etc.
They are omnivore in n, nature thus enjoys to eat many food varieties like vegetables, flakes, pellets, live and frozen food items.
Neon Tetra Keeping Tips
Neon tetras are small little colorful fishes naturally found near the Amazon Basins. They are extremely sensitive to change in their environment and habitat. In their natural habitat, they live under the streams covered with leaves.
Therefore a little amount of light reaches them. So, for this reason, they are evolved to live in a darker place. If you leave them under bright light they may be killed within hours.
Tetras also like to live in a group (minimum of 6) if you keep less than that they may feel stressed and in the end, they may die overnight.
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