Tank mates for green neon tetras

We checked green neon tetras against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for green neon tetras include cherry shrimp, dwarf gourami, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras, african dwarf frog and amano shrimp. Avoid angelfish, common goldfish and fancy goldfish: angelfish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Green neon tetras: 24–27°C (75–81°F), pH 5–6.5, adult size 2.5 cm (1 in), minimum tank 10 gallons (38 L). Full green neon tetra care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (59)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (50)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Betta fish · 5+ gal
    • Betta fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
  • Guppy · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Neon tetra · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Nerite snail · 5+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Panda corydoras · 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 green neon tetras.
    • Tiger barb is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
  • Zebra danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Assassin snail · 5+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Celestial pearl danio · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Clown loach · 180+ gal
    • Clown loach grows much larger than green neon tetras and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Denison barb · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Dwarf neon rainbowfish · 20+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 6.8–7.5).
  • German blue ram · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Kribensis is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
  • Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Platy · 15+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
    • Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
    • Rainbow shark grows much larger than green neon tetras and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Ramshorn snail · 5+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
    • Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
  • Rosy barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Siamese algae eater · 55+ gal
    • Siamese algae eater grows much larger than green neon tetras and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
  • Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like green neon tetras.
    • Buenos Aires tetra is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
  • Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Cockatoo cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
  • Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Endler's livebearer · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8.5).
  • Forktail blue-eye · 20+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Gardneri killifish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Gardneri killifish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
  • Gold barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
    • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
    • Kissing gourami grows much larger than green neon tetras and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Odessa barb · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Panda garra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Red rainbowfish · 40+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Scissortail rasbora · 55+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Scissortail rasbora may eat green neon tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like green neon tetras.
  • Swordtail · 29+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
  • Checkerboard barb · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • Keyhole cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Keyhole cichlid may eat green neon tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Least killifish · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).
  • Pearl danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Variatus platy · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–6.5 vs 7–8).

Avoid Bad tank mates (40)

  • Angelfish: Angelfish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Green neon tetra 24–27°C (75–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F). Common goldfish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Green neon tetra 24–27°C (75–81°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F). Fancy goldfish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bala shark: Bala shark can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Blood parrot cichlid: Blood parrot cichlid can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful green neon tetras.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful green neon tetras.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Green neon tetra 24–27°C (75–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Green neon tetra 24–27°C (75–81°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Electric yellow cichlid: They need very different water: pH 5–6.5 vs 7.5–8.5. 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. Green neon tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Firemouth cichlid: Firemouth cichlid can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful green neon tetras.
  • Molly: They need very different water: pH 5–6.5 vs 7.5–8.5.
  • Mystery snail: They need very different water: pH 5–6.5 vs 7.2–8.
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful green neon tetras. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
  • Peacock cichlid: They need very different water: pH 5–6.5 vs 7.5–8.5. Peacock cichlid can eat green neon tetras: 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. Green neon tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Red zebra cichlid: They need very different water: pH 5–6.5 vs 7.5–8.5. Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful green neon tetras. 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. Green neon tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Silver dollar: Silver dollar can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Green neon tetra 24–27°C (75–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
  • African butterfly fish: African butterfly fish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bumblebee catfish: Bumblebee catfish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Demasoni cichlid: They need very different water: pH 5–6.5 vs 7.5–8.5. Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful green neon tetras. 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. Green neon tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: They need very different water: pH 5–6.5 vs 8–9. Frontosa can eat green neon tetras: 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. Green neon tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Giant danio: Giant danio can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Golden wonder killifish: Golden wonder killifish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Green terror: Green terror can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful green neon tetras.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful green neon tetras.
  • Paradise fish: Paradise fish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rabbit snail: They need very different water: pH 5–6.5 vs 7.5–8.5.
  • Ropefish: Ropefish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Severum: Severum can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Shell dweller cichlid: They need very different water: pH 5–6.5 vs 7.5–9. 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. Green neon tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Upside-down catfish: Upside-down catfish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Moonlight gourami: Moonlight gourami can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with green neon tetras?

Good tank mates for green neon tetras include cherry shrimp, dwarf gourami, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras, african dwarf frog and amano shrimp. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat green neon tetras.

Can green neon tetras live with angelfish?

No. Angelfish can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.

Can green neon tetras live with bettas?

Sometimes, with care. Betta fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.

Can green neon tetras live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can green neon tetras live with bronze corydoras?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°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.