Tank mates for celestial pearl danios
We checked celestial pearl danios against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for celestial pearl danios include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras and bristlenose pleco. Avoid angelfish, common goldfish and fancy goldfish: angelfish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Celestial pearl danios: 20–25°C (68–77°F), pH 6.5–7.8, adult size 2.5 cm (1 in), minimum tank 10 gallons (38 L). Full celestial pearl danio care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (70)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 20+ gal
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+
Celestial pearl danio will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Common pleco
40 cm (15.7 in) · 150+ gal
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Zebra danio
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
African dwarf frog
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Amano shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Celestial pearl danio will pick off baby amano shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Black skirt tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Cardinal tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Cherry barb
5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Chili rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Denison barb
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf neon rainbowfish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Ember tetra
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Ghost shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Celestial pearl danio will pick off baby ghost shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Harlequin rasbora
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Hillstream loach
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 3+
Honey gourami
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Julii corydoras
5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal
Mystery snail
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Peppered corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Pygmy corydoras
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal
Rosy barb
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Celestial pearl danio will pick off baby bamboo shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Black neon tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Black phantom tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bleeding heart tetra
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+
Bloodfin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Clown killifish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Congo tetra
8 cm (3.1 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Crystal red shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Celestial pearl danio will pick off baby crystal red shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Dwarf orange crayfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 10+ gal
Emerald green corydoras
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Emperor tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Glass catfish
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Gold barb
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Head and tail light tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kubotai rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 10+
Lambchop rasbora
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Lemon tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Odessa barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Panda garra
8.5 cm (3.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Peacock gudgeon
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 2+
Penguin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Rosy loach
2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Rubber lip pleco
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal
Scarlet badis
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal
Swordtail
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Thai micro crab
1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+
Turquoise rainbowfish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Zebra loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 5+
Black ruby barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Checkerboard barb
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Flame tetra
3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Glowlight danio
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Least killifish
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl danio
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Silvertip tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Thick-lipped gourami
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Variatus platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Caution Possible, with care (41)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Betta fish · 5+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Betta fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
- Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Tiger barb · 29+ gal
- Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like celestial pearl danios.
- Tiger barb is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Clown loach grows much larger than celestial pearl danios and may swallow them as it grows.
- Dojo loach · 75+ gal
- Dojo loach grows much larger than celestial pearl danios and may swallow them as it grows.
- Glowlight tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Kribensis is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
- Kuhli loach · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Molly · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
- Rainbow shark grows much larger than celestial pearl danios and may swallow them as it grows.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
- Rummy-nose tetra · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Siamese algae eater · 55+ gal
- Siamese algae eater grows much larger than celestial pearl danios and may swallow them as it grows.
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
- White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- X-ray tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
- Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like celestial pearl danios.
- Buenos Aires tetra is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
- Clown pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Cockatoo cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
- Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Endler's livebearer · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Forktail blue-eye · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Gardneri killifish · 10+ gal
- Gardneri killifish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
- Kissing gourami grows much larger than celestial pearl danios and may swallow them as it grows.
- Marbled hatchetfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Red rainbowfish · 40+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rosy tetra · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Scissortail rasbora · 55+ gal
- Scissortail rasbora may eat celestial pearl danios, especially young or small ones.
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like celestial pearl danios.
- Sparkling gourami · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Keyhole cichlid · 29+ gal
- Keyhole cichlid may eat celestial pearl danios, especially young or small ones.
Avoid Bad tank mates (38)
- Angelfish: Angelfish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Common goldfish: Common goldfish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Fancy goldfish: Fancy goldfish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Oscar: Oscar can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Blood parrot cichlid: Blood parrot cichlid can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Boesemani rainbowfish: They need different temperatures: Celestial pearl danio 20–25°C (68–77°F), boesemani rainbowfish 26–29°C (79–84°F).
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful celestial pearl danios.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful celestial pearl danios.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Celestial pearl danio 20–25°C (68–77°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Celestial pearl danios don't belong in that setup.
- Firemouth cichlid: Firemouth cichlid can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Celestial pearl danio 20–25°C (68–77°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful celestial pearl danios.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful celestial pearl danios. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
- Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Celestial pearl danios don't belong in that setup.
- Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful celestial pearl danios. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Celestial pearl danios don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Silver dollar: Silver dollar can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- African butterfly fish: African butterfly fish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bumblebee catfish: Bumblebee catfish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful celestial pearl danios. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Celestial pearl danios don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Celestial pearl danios don't belong in that setup.
- Giant danio: Giant danio can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Golden wonder killifish: Golden wonder killifish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful celestial pearl danios.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful celestial pearl danios.
- Paradise fish: Paradise fish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Ropefish: Ropefish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Severum: Severum can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Celestial pearl danios don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Upside-down catfish: Upside-down catfish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Zebra pleco: They need different temperatures: Celestial pearl danio 20–25°C (68–77°F), zebra pleco 26–30°C (79–86°F).
- Moonlight gourami: Moonlight gourami can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with celestial pearl danios?
Good tank mates for celestial pearl danios include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras and bristlenose pleco. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat celestial pearl danios.
Can celestial pearl danios live with angelfish?
No. Angelfish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
Can celestial pearl danios live with bettas?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C). Betta fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
Can celestial pearl danios live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (22–25°C (72–77°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can celestial pearl danios live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (21–25°C (70–77°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.