TankStockingZebra Danio Tank Mates
Zebra danios are fast, hardy, cool-tolerant schoolers — endlessly active and very easy to stock around.
They are peaceful but constantly on the move, which can stress slow or shy tankmates and tempt the danios into the odd fin-nip if their group is too small. Keep a proper school of six or more and pair them with similarly active fish.
Zebra Danio key facts
The sourced figures the engine uses to judge Zebra Danio pairings.
| Adult size | 5 cm |
|---|---|
| Minimum tank | 10 US gal |
| Minimum group | 6+ (shoal) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Temperature range | 18–25°C |
| pH range | 6–8 |
| Bioload | Medium |
| Swim level | All levels |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
Sources & confidence (11 species)
These back the Zebra Danio 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.
- Zebra Danio Danio rerio — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/danio-rerio) high confidence
- Amano Shrimp Caridina multidentata — Aquarium Co-Op amano shrimp care; Aquadiction high confidence
- Bamboo Shrimp (Wood/Fan Shrimp) Atyopsis moluccensis — Aquariadise (aquariadise.com/caresheet-bamboo-shrimp-atyopsis-moluccensis) 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
- Boesemani Rainbowfish Melanotaenia boesemani — Seriously Fish; Aquarium Co-Op Boesemani guide 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
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Verdict
Top Zebra Danio tank mates
A ranked shortlist: the species the engine clears with Zebra Danio 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 |
| Bamboo Shrimp (Wood/Fan Shrimp) | 10 cm | 20–27°C | 1 | 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 |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | 10 cm | 24–28°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Bolivian Ram | 8 cm | 24–27°C | 2+ (pair/group) | Bottom | 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 | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cardinal Tetra | 3 cm | 23–29°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
Other engine-cleared options (not necessarily ideal)
These clear TankStocking's hard welfare checks with Zebra Danio, but are larger, bolder, or otherwise less ideal than the shortlist above — read up before committing.
Anabantoids (Bettas/Gouramis)
Barbs
Cichlids
Corydoras
Livebearers
Loaches
Oddball
Plecos & Catfish
Rainbowfish
Rasboras
Possible with care
These can work, but the engine flags something to watch — read the reason before you commit.
- 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 Zebra Danio.
- Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) — Territorial, Fin-nipping
- 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
- Bala Shark — Predation risk
- Tinfoil Barb — Predation risk
- Discus — Temperature clash
- Electric Blue Acara — Predation risk
- Firemouth Cichlid — Predation risk, Territorial
- Freshwater Angelfish — Fin-nipping
- German Blue Ram — Temperature clash
Zebra Danio community ideas
Each build is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.
Danio + cory
✓ Good starter plan8× Zebra Danio, 6× Bronze Corydoras
An active mid-water school with a calm bottom shoal — a hardy, forgiving community.
Load this build in the planner ↑Danio nano school
✓ Good starter plan8× Zebra Danio, 1× Nerite Snail
A simple, fast-moving school for a 10-gallon, with a snail on clean-up.
Load this build in the planner ↑Common questions
What fish can live with zebra danios?
Other active, robust community fish: corydoras, larger tetras, platies, and other danios. Their constant motion can unsettle very shy or slow, long-finned fish, so match them with similarly lively tankmates.
How many zebra danios should I keep?
At least six. In small groups danios get nippy and stressed; a larger school keeps their energy directed at each other.
Do zebra danios need a heater?
They tolerate cooler water than most tropical fish and can suit unheated rooms in temperate climates, but a heater for stability is still sensible in most homes.
More on Zebra Danio
Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.
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.