Harlequin rasbora Tank Mates
Short answer: the best harlequin rasbora tank mates are Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Molly, Neon tetra. Harlequin rasboras need 70–82 °F (21–28 °C), pH 5–7.5 and at least 20 gallons. Keep them in a group of 6 or more.
Harlequin rasbora care at a glance
| Adult size | 2.0 in (5 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 20 US gallons |
| Temperature | 70–82 °F (21–28 °C) |
| pH | 5–7.5 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Groups of 6+ |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (50)
- Betta fish
- Dwarf gourami
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- 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
- Zebra danio
- Pearl gourami
- Swordtail
- Discus
- Rainbow shark
- Red tail shark
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Clown loach
- Pygmy cory
- Sparkling gourami
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin 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 (12)
- Cherry shrimp — Harlequin rasbora 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 harlequin rasbora; 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 harlequin rasbora (5 cm), especially at night.
- Black skirt tetra — Black skirt tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like harlequin rasbora; 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 Harlequin rasbora 21–28 °C (70–82 °F).
- Serpae tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like harlequin rasbora; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Kribensis — Kribensis is a much larger territorial fish and may bully harlequin rasbora.
- Three spot gourami — An adult three spot gourami (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller harlequin rasbora (5 cm), especially at night.
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like harlequin rasbora; 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 harlequin rasbora (5 cm), especially at night.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Harlequin rasbora 21–28 °C (70–82 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
❌ Not recommended (9)
- Fancy goldfish — An adult fancy goldfish (up to 20 cm) is big enough to eat harlequin rasbora (5 cm).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat harlequin rasbora (5 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful harlequin rasbora.
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Harlequin rasbora 21–28 °C (70–82 °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 harlequin rasbora.
- Paradise fish — Paradise fish is aggressive and will bully peaceful harlequin rasbora.
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful harlequin rasbora.
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat harlequin rasbora (5 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat harlequin rasbora (5 cm).
How many harlequin rasboras 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 harlequin rasboras?
Good matches include Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Molly, Neon tetra. They share a temperature range with harlequin rasboras (70–82 °F (21–28 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with harlequin rasboras?
Avoid Fancy goldfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, White cloud mountain minnow, Electric yellow cichlid, Paradise fish.
What size tank do harlequin rasboras need?
We recommend at least 20 US gallons for a group of 6 harlequin rasboras, more if you add tank mates.
Can harlequin rasboras live alone?
No. Harlequin rasboras 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.