Chili rasbora Tank Mates
Short answer: the best chili rasbora tank mates are Cherry shrimp, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly. Chili rasboras need 68–82 °F (20–28 °C), pH 4–7 and at least 10 gallons. Keep them in a group of 8 or more.
Chili rasbora care at a glance
| Adult size | 0.8 in (2 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 10 US gallons |
| Temperature | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) |
| pH | 4–7 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Groups of 8+ |
| Care level | Moderate |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (48)
- Cherry shrimp
- Dwarf gourami
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Nerite snail
- Amano shrimp
- Celestial pearl danio
- Ember tetra
- Endler's livebearer
- 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
- Black neon tetra
- 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 (10)
- Betta fish — An adult betta fish (up to 7 cm) may try to eat smaller chili rasbora (2 cm), especially at night.
- Tiger barb — Tiger barb may nip at calmer tankmates like chili rasbora; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Mystery snail — pH preferences don't overlap (Chili rasbora 4–7, Mystery snail 7.2–8.5). Captive-bred fish often adapt, but one of them will be outside its comfort zone.
- Black skirt tetra — Black skirt tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like chili rasbora; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- German blue ram — Very narrow shared temperature range: Chili rasbora 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 chili rasbora; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Cockatoo dwarf cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully chili rasbora.
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like chili rasbora; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Chili rasbora 20–28 °C (68–82 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
❌ Not recommended (13)
- Fancy goldfish — An adult fancy goldfish (up to 20 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Angelfish — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful chili rasbora.
- Kribensis — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Pearl gourami — An adult pearl gourami (up to 12 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Three spot gourami — An adult three spot gourami (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Electric yellow cichlid — An adult electric yellow cichlid (up to 10 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Paradise fish — An adult paradise fish (up to 10 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Convict cichlid — An adult convict cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Firemouth cichlid — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
How many chili rasboras per tank?
10 gal 20 gal 29 gal 40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with chili rasboras?
Good matches include Cherry shrimp, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly. They share a temperature range with chili rasboras (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 chili rasboras?
Avoid Fancy goldfish, Angelfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, Kribensis, Pearl gourami.
What size tank do chili rasboras need?
We recommend at least 10 US gallons for a group of 8 chili rasboras, more if you add tank mates.
Can chili rasboras live alone?
No. Chili rasboras are social and should be kept in groups of at least 8.
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.