Bloodfin tetra Tank Mates
Short answer: the best bloodfin tetra tank mates are Dwarf gourami, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Neon tetra, Platy. Bloodfin tetras need 64–82 °F (18–28 °C), pH 6–8 and at least 20 gallons. Keep them in a group of 6 or more.
Bloodfin tetra care at a glance
| Adult size | 2.2 in (5.5 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 20 US gallons |
| Temperature | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) |
| pH | 6–8 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Groups of 6+ |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (50)
- Dwarf gourami
- 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
- Kribensis
- Pearl gourami
- Swordtail
- Discus
- Rainbow shark
- Red tail shark
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Clown loach
- Pygmy cory
- Sparkling gourami
- Black neon tetra
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid
- 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 — Bloodfin tetra will eat baby cherry shrimp (and some individuals hunt adults), so a shrimp colony may not grow. Dense plants and moss help.
- Betta fish — Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips long fins, so betta fish may get harassed.
- Guppy — Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips long fins, so guppy may get harassed.
- Fancy goldfish — An adult fancy goldfish (up to 20 cm) may try to eat smaller bloodfin tetra (5.5 cm), especially at night.
- Tiger barb — Tiger barb may nip at calmer tankmates like bloodfin 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 bloodfin tetra (5.5 cm), especially at night.
- Black skirt tetra — Black skirt tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like bloodfin tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- German blue ram — Very narrow shared temperature range: Bloodfin tetra 18–28 °C (64–82 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Serpae tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like bloodfin tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Three spot gourami — An adult three spot gourami (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller bloodfin tetra (5.5 cm), especially at night.
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like bloodfin 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 bloodfin tetra (5.5 cm), especially at night.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Bloodfin tetra 18–28 °C (64–82 °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 (7)
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat bloodfin tetra (5.5 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful bloodfin 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 bloodfin tetra.
- Paradise fish — Paradise fish is aggressive and will bully peaceful bloodfin tetra.
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful bloodfin tetra.
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat bloodfin tetra (5.5 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat bloodfin tetra (5.5 cm).
How many bloodfin 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 bloodfin tetras?
Good matches include Dwarf gourami, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Neon tetra, Platy. They share a temperature range with bloodfin tetras (64–82 °F (18–28 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with bloodfin tetras?
Avoid Oscar, Pea puffer, Electric yellow cichlid, Paradise fish, Convict cichlid, Jack Dempsey.
What size tank do bloodfin tetras need?
We recommend at least 20 US gallons for a group of 6 bloodfin tetras, more if you add tank mates.
Can bloodfin tetras live alone?
No. Bloodfin 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.