Rummy nose tetra Tank Mates
Short answer: the best rummy nose tetra tank mates are Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly. Rummy nose tetras need 73–79 °F (23–26 °C), pH 5.5–7 and at least 20 gallons. Keep them in a group of 8 or more.
Rummy nose tetra care at a glance
| Adult size | 2.0 in (5 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 20 US gallons |
| Temperature | 73–79 °F (23–26 °C) |
| pH | 5.5–7 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Groups of 8+ |
| Care level | Moderate |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (45)
- Betta fish
- Dwarf gourami
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Nerite snail
- Amano shrimp
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Endler's livebearer
- Otocinclus
- Panda cory
- Bronze cory
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- Glowlight tetra
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Zebra danio
- Pearl gourami
- Swordtail
- 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
- Sterbai cory
- X-ray tetra
- Congo tetra
- Odessa barb
- Upside-down catfish
- Bolivian ram
⚠️ Possible with caution (14)
- Cherry shrimp — Rummy nose tetra 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 rummy nose 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 rummy nose tetra (5 cm), especially at night.
- Mystery snail — pH preferences don't overlap (Mystery snail 7.2–8.5, Rummy nose tetra 5.5–7). 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 rummy nose tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Serpae tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like rummy nose tetra; 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 rummy nose tetra.
- Three spot gourami — An adult three spot gourami (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller rummy nose tetra (5 cm), especially at night.
- Peppered cory — Very narrow shared temperature range: Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) vs Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °F).
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like rummy nose tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Gold barb — Very narrow shared temperature range: Gold barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F) vs Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °F).
- Rosy barb — Very narrow shared temperature range: Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F) vs Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °F).
- Firemouth cichlid — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller rummy nose tetra (5 cm), especially at night.
- 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: Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F) vs Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °F).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat rummy nose tetra (5 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful rummy nose tetra.
- German blue ram — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °F).
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °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 rummy nose tetra.
- Discus — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °F).
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F) vs Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °F).
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful rummy nose tetra.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °F).
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat rummy nose tetra (5 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat rummy nose tetra (5 cm).
How many rummy nose 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 rummy nose tetras?
Good matches include Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly. They share a temperature range with rummy nose tetras (73–79 °F (23–26 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with rummy nose tetras?
Avoid Fancy goldfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, German blue ram, White cloud mountain minnow, Electric yellow cichlid.
What size tank do rummy nose tetras need?
We recommend at least 20 US gallons for a group of 8 rummy nose tetras, more if you add tank mates.
Can rummy nose tetras live alone?
No. Rummy nose tetras 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.