TankStocking

Neon Tetra Tank Mates

Neon tetras are tiny, peaceful schoolers — they get along with almost any other calm community fish their own size.

By the TankStocking team · methodology-driven, sourced from aquarium care references Data v2026.06 · last reviewed How we judge this →

The main risk for a neon tetra is being eaten: anything large enough to fit a 3 cm fish in its mouth is a problem, which is why angelfish and other bigger predators are flagged. Kept in a tight school of six or more with similarly-sized, peaceful tankmates, neons are one of the easiest community fish to stock around.

Neon Tetra key facts

The sourced figures the engine uses to judge Neon Tetra pairings.

Key facts — Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)
Adult size3 cm
Minimum tank10 US gal
Minimum group6+ (shoal)
TemperamentPeaceful
Temperature range21–25°C
pH range5–7.5
BioloadLow
Swim levelMidwater
Beginner-friendlyYes
Sources & confidence (11 species)

These back the Neon Tetra 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.

  • Neon Tetra Paracheirodon innesi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-innesi) high confidence
  • Amano Shrimp Caridina multidentata — Aquarium Co-Op amano shrimp care; Aquadiction high confidence
  • Assassin Snail Clea helena (Anentome helena) — The Shrimp Farm (theshrimpfarm.com/posts/assassin-snail-care) 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
  • Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-axelrodi) high confidence
  • Celestial Pearl Danio Celestichthys margaritatus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/celestichthys-margaritatus) high confidence
  • Checker Barb Oliotius oligolepis — Seriously Fish — Oliotius oligolepis (https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/oliotius-oligolepis/) high confidence
  • Cherry Barb Puntius titteya — Seriously Fish (Puntius titteya) seriouslyfish.com/species/puntius-titteya high confidence
  • Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi — Aquarium Co-Op cherry shrimp care; The Shrimp Farm high confidence
Tank & group guidance: Keep neon tetras in a group of at least six (more is better) in a 10-gallon tank or larger. A 20-gallon long gives them room to shoal and pairs nicely with a bottom group such as corydoras. The planner below is pre-set to 20 gallons — add your real list to test it.

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      Verdict

      Top Neon Tetra tank mates

      A ranked shortlist: the species the engine clears with Neon Tetra and that suit its size and temperament best — tap any to load the exact pairing in the planner.

      Amano ShrimpAssassin SnailBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBleeding Heart TetraCardinal TetraCelestial Pearl DanioChecker BarbCherry BarbCherry Shrimp
      Top Neon Tetra tank mates — engine-cleared, ranked by size & temperament fit
      SpeciesAdult sizeTemp rangeMin groupSwim levelWhy it works
      Amano Shrimp 5 cm 18–27°C 3+ (pair/group) All levels Peaceful temperament, similar adult size
      Assassin Snail 2 cm 18–25°C 1 Bottom Uses the bottom zone, 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
      Cardinal Tetra 3 cm 23–29°C 6+ (shoal) Midwater Peaceful temperament, similar adult size
      Celestial Pearl Danio 2.1 cm 20–26°C 8+ (shoal) Midwater Peaceful temperament, similar adult size
      Checker Barb 5 cm 20–25°C 6+ (shoal) Midwater Peaceful temperament, similar adult size
      Cherry Barb 5 cm 23–27°C 6+ (shoal) Midwater Peaceful temperament, similar adult size
      Cherry Shrimp 3 cm 18–28°C 6+ (pair/group) All levels Peaceful temperament, similar adult size

      Other engine-cleared options (not necessarily ideal)

      These clear TankStocking's hard welfare checks with Neon Tetra, but are larger, bolder, or otherwise less ideal than the shortlist above — read up before committing.

      Anabantoids (Bettas/Gouramis)

      Banded GouramiCroaking GouramiHoney GouramiPeaceful Betta (Crescent Betta)Pearl GouramiSparkling (Pygmy) Gourami

      Barbs

      Five-banded BarbGold BarbOdessa BarbTiger Barb

      Cichlids

      Bolivian RamKeyhole Cichlid

      Corydoras

      Bronze CorydorasJulii CorydorasPanda CorydorasPeppered CorydorasPygmy CorydorasSalt and Pepper CorydorasSterbai Corydoras

      Danios

      Dwarf Emerald RasboraPearl DanioZebra Danio

      Invertebrates

      Bamboo Shrimp (Wood/Fan Shrimp)Ghost Shrimp (Glass/Grass Shrimp)Mystery SnailNerite Snail

      Killifish

      Clown KillifishMedaka Ricefish (Japanese Ricefish)

      Livebearers

      Endler's LivebearerGuppy (Fancy)Least Killifish (Dwarf Livebearer)Molly (Common / Sailfin)PlatySwordtail

      Loaches

      Dojo Loach (Weather Loach)Dwarf Chain LoachKuhli LoachReticulated Hillstream LoachZebra Loach

      Oddball

      Peacock GudgeonScarlet Badis

      Plecos & Catfish

      Asian Stone CatfishBristlenose PlecoClown PlecoGlass CatfishOtocinclusRubber Lip PlecoUpside-Down Catfish

      Rainbowfish

      Boesemani RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishNeon Dwarf RainbowfishThreadfin Rainbowfish

      Rasboras

      Brilliant RasboraChili RasboraGreen Neon (Kubotai) RasboraHarlequin RasboraLambchop RasboraMosquito Rasbora (Dwarf Rasbora)Scissortail Rasbora

      Tetras

      Black Skirt TetraBuenos Aires TetraCongo TetraDiamond TetraDwarf PencilfishEmber TetraEmperor TetraFlame Tetra (Von Rio Tetra)Glowlight TetraLemon TetraMarbled HatchetfishRummynose TetraSerpae TetraSilvertip TetraX-ray (Pristella) Tetra

      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
      • Kribensis (Rainbow Krib) — Territorial

      Best avoided

      A hard welfare check fires for each of these — don't mix them with Neon Tetra.

      • Chocolate Gourami — Temperature clash, Species-only fish
      • Dwarf Gourami — Temperature clash
      • Kissing Gourami — Predation risk
      • Licorice Gourami — Species-only fish
      • Moonlight Gourami — Temperature clash
      • Snakeskin Gourami — Predation risk
      • Three-spot (Blue/Opaline/Gold) Gourami — Predation risk
      • Bala Shark — Predation risk
      • Denison Barb (Roseline Shark) — Predation risk
      • Rosy Barb — Predation risk
      • Tinfoil Barb — Predation risk
      • Convict Cichlid — Predation risk, Aggression
      • Discus — Temperature clash
      • Electric Blue Acara — Predation risk

      Neon Tetra community ideas

      Each build is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.

      Neon + cory community

      ✓ Good starter plan

      10× Neon Tetra, 6× Bronze Corydoras

      A tight mid-water school over a bottom shoal — different swim levels, zero conflict.

      Load this build in the planner ↑

      Neon + honey gourami

      ✓ Good starter plan

      8× Neon Tetra, 1× Honey Gourami, 1× Nerite Snail

      A peaceful honey gourami centrepiece above a neon school, with a snail on clean-up.

      Load this build in the planner ↑

      Common questions

      What fish are good tank mates for neon tetras?

      Other small, peaceful community fish: corydoras, harlequin rasboras, ember tetras, honey gouramis, dwarf rasboras, and peaceful shrimp. Keep tankmates similar in size so nothing can eat the neons.

      Can neon tetras live with bettas?

      Sometimes, with care. A neon school can distract and out-swim a betta, but the betta's territorial streak makes it a watch-it pairing — the planner flags it as "worth a closer look", not a clean green.

      How many neon tetras should I keep together?

      At least six, and ideally ten or more. Neons are shoaling fish; small groups are stressed, faded in colour, and more prone to nipping each other.

      More on Neon Tetra

      Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.

      Can Neon Tetra live with…?

      Neon Tetra stocking by tank size

      Browse

      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.