TankStockingHarlequin Rasbora Tank Mates
Harlequin rasboras are peaceful, hardy mid-water schoolers — a near-perfect beginner community fish.
Undemanding and non-aggressive, they mix with virtually every calm community species. Their copper-and-black colouring pops in a planted tank, and a tight school of eight or more behaves beautifully. The engine clears the usual peaceful crowd with few cautions.
Harlequin Rasbora key facts
The sourced figures the engine uses to judge Harlequin Rasbora pairings.
| Adult size | 4.5 cm |
|---|---|
| Minimum tank | 15 US gal |
| Minimum group | 8+ (shoal) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Temperature range | 21–28°C |
| pH range | 5–7.5 |
| Bioload | Low |
| Swim level | Midwater |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
Sources & confidence (11 species)
These back the Harlequin Rasbora figures and the recommended tank mates above. Each figure is read from the TankStocking species database (v2026.06); below is the care reference behind it and how confident we are in that data. Confidence reflects the source quality, not whether any pairing is safe. Full source list and the welfare model are on the methodology page.
- Harlequin Rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/trigonostigma-heteromorpha) high confidence
- Amano Shrimp Caridina multidentata — Aquarium Co-Op amano shrimp care; Aquadiction high confidence
- Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi — Seriously Fish / Aqua-Fish (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) high confidence
- Black Phantom Tetra Hyphessobrycon megalopterus — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) high confidence
- Bleeding Heart Tetra Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma) high confidence
- Bolivian Ram Mikrogeophagus altispinosus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/mikrogeophagus-altispinosus) high confidence
- Brilliant Rasbora Rasbora einthovenii — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/rasbora-einthovenii) high confidence
- Bronze Corydoras Corydoras aeneus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/corydoras-aeneus) high confidence
- Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-axelrodi) high confidence
- Celebes Rainbowfish Marosatherina ladigesi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/marosatherina-ladigesi) high confidence
- Checker Barb Oliotius oligolepis — Seriously Fish — Oliotius oligolepis (https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/oliotius-oligolepis/) high confidence
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Verdict
Top Harlequin Rasbora tank mates
A ranked shortlist: the species the engine clears with Harlequin Rasbora and that suit its size and temperament best — tap any to load the exact pairing in the planner.
| Species | Adult size | Temp range | Min group | Swim level | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amano Shrimp | 5 cm | 18–27°C | 3+ (pair/group) | All levels | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Neon Tetra | 3.5 cm | 23–27°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Phantom Tetra | 3.6 cm | 20–28°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | 6 cm | 21–28°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Bolivian Ram | 8 cm | 24–27°C | 2+ (pair/group) | Bottom | Uses the bottom zone, peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Brilliant Rasbora | 9 cm | 22–26°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Bronze Corydoras | 7 cm | 22–26°C | 6+ (shoal) | Bottom | Uses the bottom zone, peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cardinal Tetra | 3 cm | 23–29°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Celebes Rainbowfish | 8 cm | 22–28°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Checker Barb | 5 cm | 20–25°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
Other engine-cleared options (not necessarily ideal)
These clear TankStocking's hard welfare checks with Harlequin Rasbora, but are larger, bolder, or otherwise less ideal than the shortlist above — read up before committing.
Anabantoids (Bettas/Gouramis)
Barbs
Corydoras
Invertebrates
Livebearers
Loaches
Oddball
Plecos & Catfish
Rasboras
Possible with care
These can work, but the engine flags something to watch — read the reason before you commit.
- Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) — Territorial
- Paradise Fish — Aggression
- Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (Apisto Cacatuoides) — Territorial
- Convict Cichlid — Aggression
- Jewel Cichlid — Aggression
- Kribensis (Rainbow Krib) — Territorial
- Rainbow Shark — Aggression
- Redtail Black Shark — Aggression
Best avoided
A hard welfare check fires for each of these — don't mix them with Harlequin Rasbora.
- Chocolate Gourami — Species-only fish
- Kissing Gourami — Predation risk
- Licorice Gourami — Species-only fish
- Snakeskin Gourami — Predation risk
- Bala Shark — Predation risk
- Tinfoil Barb — Predation risk
- Discus — Temperature clash
- Electric Blue Acara — Predation risk
- Firemouth Cichlid — Predation risk, Territorial
- Green Severum — Predation risk
- Multifasciatus Shell-Dweller — Territorial, Species-only fish
- Oscar — Predation risk, Aggression
- Common Goldfish — Coldwater + tropical
- Fancy Goldfish — Coldwater + tropical
Harlequin Rasbora community ideas
Each build is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.
Harlequin + cory
✓ Good starter plan8× Harlequin Rasbora, 6× Bronze Corydoras
The textbook beginner community: a mid-water school over a bottom shoal.
Load this build in the planner ↑Harlequin + honey gourami
✓ Good starter plan8× Harlequin Rasbora, 1× Honey Gourami
A calm centrepiece above a rasbora school for a planted 15-gallon.
Load this build in the planner ↑Common questions
What fish can live with harlequin rasboras?
Almost any peaceful community fish: corydoras, neon and ember tetras, honey gouramis, dwarf cichlids and shrimp. Harlequins are gentle mid-water shoalers that rarely cause trouble.
How many harlequin rasboras should I keep?
At least eight. They are shoaling fish that feel secure and colour up best in a decent-sized group.
Are harlequin rasboras good for beginners?
Yes — they are hardy, peaceful, and tolerant of a range of conditions, making them one of the best first schooling fish.
More on Harlequin Rasbora
Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.
Can Harlequin Rasbora live with…?
Compatibility is a planning estimate: individual temperament, tank layout, and group sizes all matter. Cycle the tank, add fish gradually, and watch how they behave. See the methodology or browse the full freshwater fish list.