Glowlight tetra Tank Mates
Short answer: the best glowlight tetra tank mates are Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly. Glowlight tetras need 75–82 °F (24–28 °C), pH 5.5–7.5 and at least 20 gallons. Keep them in a group of 6 or more.
Glowlight tetra care at a glance
| Adult size | 1.6 in (4 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 20 US gallons |
| Temperature | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) |
| pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Groups of 6+ |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (40)
- Betta fish
- Dwarf gourami
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Platy
- Amano shrimp
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Endler's livebearer
- Mystery snail
- Otocinclus
- Bronze cory
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Rummy nose tetra
- 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
- Sterbai cory
- X-ray tetra
- Congo tetra
- Upside-down catfish
- Bolivian ram
⚠️ Possible with caution (19)
- Cherry shrimp — Glowlight tetra will eat baby cherry shrimp (and some individuals hunt adults), so a shrimp colony may not grow. Dense plants and moss help.
- Neon tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Neon tetra 21–25 °C (70–77 °F).
- Tiger barb — Tiger barb may nip at calmer tankmates like glowlight 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 glowlight tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Nerite snail — Very narrow shared temperature range: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Nerite snail 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Panda cory — Very narrow shared temperature range: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Black skirt tetra — Black skirt tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like glowlight tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- German blue ram — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Serpae tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like glowlight tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Zebra danio — Very narrow shared temperature range: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Zebra danio 18–25 °C (64–77 °F).
- Kribensis — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller glowlight tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Pearl gourami — An adult pearl gourami (up to 12 cm) may try to eat smaller glowlight tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Three spot gourami — An adult three spot gourami (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller glowlight tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Cockatoo dwarf cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully glowlight tetra.
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like glowlight tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Odessa barb — Very narrow shared temperature range: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Firemouth cichlid — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller glowlight tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
❌ Not recommended (12)
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat glowlight tetra (4 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful glowlight tetra.
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- 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 glowlight tetra.
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F).
- Peppered cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful glowlight tetra.
- Gold barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Gold barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Rosy barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat glowlight tetra (4 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat glowlight tetra (4 cm).
How many glowlight 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 glowlight tetras?
Good matches include Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly. They share a temperature range with glowlight tetras (75–82 °F (24–28 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with glowlight tetras?
Avoid Fancy goldfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, White cloud mountain minnow, Electric yellow cichlid, Paradise fish.
What size tank do glowlight tetras need?
We recommend at least 20 US gallons for a group of 6 glowlight tetras, more if you add tank mates.
Can glowlight tetras live alone?
No. Glowlight 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.