Black neon tetra Tank Mates
Short answer: the best black neon tetra tank mates are Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly. Black neon tetras need 68–82 °F (20–28 °C), pH 5–7.5 and at least 20 gallons. Keep them in a group of 6 or more.
Black neon tetra care at a glance
| Adult size | 1.6 in (4 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 20 US gallons |
| Temperature | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) |
| pH | 5–7.5 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Groups of 6+ |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (49)
- Betta fish
- Dwarf gourami
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Nerite snail
- Amano shrimp
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Endler's livebearer
- Mystery snail
- Otocinclus
- Panda cory
- Bronze cory
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- Glowlight tetra
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Rummy nose tetra
- White cloud mountain minnow
- Zebra danio
- Swordtail
- Discus
- Rainbow shark
- Red tail shark
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Clown loach
- Pygmy cory
- Sparkling gourami
- Bloodfin tetra
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Forktail blue-eye
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- Peppered cory
- Sterbai cory
- X-ray tetra
- Congo tetra
- Gold barb
- Odessa barb
- Rosy barb
- Upside-down catfish
- Bolivian ram
⚠️ Possible with caution (14)
- Cherry shrimp — Black neon tetra will eat baby cherry shrimp (and some individuals hunt adults), so a shrimp colony may not grow. Dense plants and moss help.
- Tiger barb — Tiger barb may nip at calmer tankmates like black neon tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Angelfish — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller black neon tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Black skirt tetra — Black skirt tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like black neon tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- German blue ram — Very narrow shared temperature range: Black neon tetra 20–28 °C (68–82 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Serpae tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like black neon tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Kribensis — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller black neon tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Pearl gourami — An adult pearl gourami (up to 12 cm) may try to eat smaller black neon tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Three spot gourami — An adult three spot gourami (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller black neon tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Cockatoo dwarf cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully black neon tetra.
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like black neon tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Firemouth cichlid — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller black neon tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Black neon tetra 20–28 °C (68–82 °F) vs Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
❌ Not recommended (8)
- Fancy goldfish — An adult fancy goldfish (up to 20 cm) is big enough to eat black neon tetra (4 cm).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat black neon tetra (4 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful black neon tetra.
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for black neon tetra.
- Paradise fish — Paradise fish is aggressive and will bully peaceful black neon tetra.
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful black neon tetra.
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat black neon tetra (4 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat black neon tetra (4 cm).
How many black neon tetras per tank?
20 gal 29 gal 40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with black neon tetras?
Good matches include Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly. They share a temperature range with black neon tetras (68–82 °F (20–28 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with black neon tetras?
Avoid Fancy goldfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, Electric yellow cichlid, Paradise fish, Convict cichlid.
What size tank do black neon tetras need?
We recommend at least 20 US gallons for a group of 6 black neon tetras, more if you add tank mates.
Can black neon tetras live alone?
No. Black neon tetras are social and should be kept in groups of at least 6.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.