Chinese algae eater Tank Mates
Short answer: the best chinese algae eater tank mates are Nerite snail, Amano shrimp, Mystery snail. Chinese algae eaters need 72–79 °F (22–26 °C), pH 6–8 and at least 75 gallons.
Same species: Keep only one Chinese algae eater (or one male) per tank — males fight, often to the death.
Chinese algae eater care at a glance
| Adult size | 11.0 in (28 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 75 US gallons |
| Temperature | 72–79 °F (22–26 °C) |
| pH | 6–8 |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims in | Bottom |
| Group size | Keep one male per tank |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (3)
⚠️ Possible with caution (48)
- Cherry shrimp — Chinese algae eater will eat baby cherry shrimp (and some individuals hunt adults), so a shrimp colony may not grow. Dense plants and moss help.
- Betta fish — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Dwarf gourami — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Guppy — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Bristlenose pleco — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully bristlenose pleco.
- Harlequin rasbora — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Molly — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Neon tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Platy — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Tiger barb — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Celestial pearl danio — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Chili rasbora — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Ember tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Endler's livebearer — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Otocinclus — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully otocinclus.
- Panda cory — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully panda cory.
- Black skirt tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Bronze cory — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully bronze cory.
- Cardinal tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Cherry barb — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Glowlight tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Honey gourami — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Kuhli loach — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully kuhli loach.
- Rummy nose tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Serpae tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Zebra danio — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Pearl gourami — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Swordtail — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Three spot gourami — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Clown loach — Chinese algae eater defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase clown loach.
- Pygmy cory — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Sparkling gourami — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully sparkling gourami.
- Black neon tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Bloodfin tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Forktail blue-eye — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Glass catfish — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Lemon tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Peppered cory — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully peppered cory.
- Sterbai cory — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully sterbai cory.
- X-ray tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Buenos Aires tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Congo tetra — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Gold barb — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Odessa barb — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Rosy barb — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Upside-down catfish — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully upside-down catfish.
- Bala shark — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
❌ Not recommended (20)
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Chinese algae eater 22–26 °C (72–79 °F) vs Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F).
- Angelfish — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat — flat-bodied fish like angelfish are frequent targets.
- Oscar — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Pea puffer — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- German blue ram — No comfortable shared temperature: Chinese algae eater 22–26 °C (72–79 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Chinese algae eater 22–26 °C (72–79 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Kribensis — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- 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 Chinese algae eater.
- Discus — No comfortable shared temperature: Chinese algae eater 22–26 °C (72–79 °F) vs Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F).
- Rainbow shark — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Red tail shark — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Siamese algae eater — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Common pleco — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Chinese algae eater 22–26 °C (72–79 °F) vs Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F).
- Convict cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Firemouth cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Chinese algae eater 22–26 °C (72–79 °F).
- Bolivian ram — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Jack Dempsey — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
How many Chinese algae eaters per tank?
75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with Chinese algae eaters?
Good matches include Nerite snail, Amano shrimp, Mystery snail. They share a temperature range with Chinese algae eaters (72–79 °F (22–26 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with Chinese algae eaters?
Avoid Fancy goldfish, Angelfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, German blue ram, White cloud mountain minnow.
What size tank do Chinese algae eaters need?
We recommend at least 75 US gallons for one chinese algae eater, more if you add tank mates.
Can Chinese algae eaters live alone?
Yes. Keep only one Chinese algae eater (or one male) per tank — males fight, often to the death.
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.