Tank mates for harlequin rasboras
We checked harlequin rasboras against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for harlequin rasboras include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. Avoid oscar, bala shark and chinese algae eater: oscar can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Harlequin rasboras: 22–27°C (72–81°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 4.5 cm (1.8 in), minimum tank 15 gallons (57 L). Full harlequin rasbora care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (100)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Betta fish
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 5+ gal
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+
Harlequin rasbora will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Common pleco
40 cm (15.7 in) · 150+ gal
Dwarf gourami
7.5 cm (3 in) · 15+ 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+
Harlequin rasbora 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+
Celestial pearl danio
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ 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+
Harlequin rasbora will pick off baby ghost shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Glowlight tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Honey gourami
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Julii corydoras
5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kuhli loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal
Molly
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Mystery snail
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl gourami
11.5 cm (4.5 in) · 29+ gal
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
Rummy-nose tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 10+
Siamese algae eater
15 cm (5.9 in) · 55+ gal
Silver dollar
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
X-ray tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Yoyo loach
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Harlequin rasbora 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+
Bolivian ram
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal
Clown killifish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Clown pleco
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Cockatoo cichlid
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal
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+
Harlequin rasbora will pick off baby crystal red shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Diamond tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf chain loach
6 cm (2.4 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Emerald green corydoras
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Emperor tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Endler's livebearer
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Forktail blue-eye
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Gardneri killifish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 10+ gal
Giant danio
10 cm (3.9 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Glass catfish
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+
Marbled hatchetfish
3.5 cm (1.4 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+
Rabbit snail
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal
Red rainbowfish
12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Rosy loach
2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Rosy tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Rubber lip pleco
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal
Scarlet badis
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal
Scissortail rasbora
12 cm (4.7 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Sparkling gourami
3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Swordtail
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Thai micro crab
1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+
Threadfin rainbowfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Turquoise rainbowfish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Upside-down catfish
9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Vampire shrimp
10 cm (3.9 in) · 20+ gal
Harlequin rasbora will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
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+
Dwarf rasbora
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
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+
Green neon tetra
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Keyhole cichlid
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+
Least killifish
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Moonlight gourami
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal
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 (27)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Angelfish may eat harlequin rasboras, especially young or small ones.
- Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller harlequin rasboras.
- Common goldfish · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Common goldfish may eat harlequin rasboras, especially young or small ones.
- Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Tiger barb · 29+ gal
- Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like harlequin rasboras.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller harlequin rasboras.
- Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase harlequin rasboras, which use the same area.
- Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Clown loach grows much larger than harlequin rasboras and may swallow them as it grows.
- Dojo loach · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller harlequin rasboras.
- German blue ram · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
- Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
- 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 harlequin rasboras.
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller harlequin rasboras.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller harlequin rasboras.
- Rosy barb · 29+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller harlequin rasboras.
- White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
- African butterfly fish may eat harlequin rasboras, especially young or small ones.
- African butterfly fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller harlequin rasboras.
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like harlequin rasboras.
- Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
- Bumblebee catfish may eat harlequin rasboras, especially young or small ones.
- Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Gold barb · 29+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Golden wonder killifish · 20+ gal
- Golden wonder killifish may eat harlequin rasboras, especially young or small ones.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller harlequin rasboras.
- Kissing gourami grows much larger than harlequin rasboras and may swallow them as it grows.
- Paradise fish · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like harlequin rasboras.
- Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
Avoid Bad tank mates (22)
- Oscar: Oscar can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat harlequin rasboras: 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 harlequin rasboras.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful harlequin rasboras.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Harlequin rasbora 22–27°C (72–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat harlequin rasboras: 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. Harlequin rasboras don't belong in that setup.
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful harlequin rasboras.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful harlequin rasboras. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
- Peacock cichlid: 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. Harlequin rasboras don't belong in that setup.
- Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat harlequin rasboras: 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 harlequin rasboras. 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. Harlequin rasboras don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat harlequin rasboras: 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 harlequin rasboras. 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. Harlequin rasboras don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat harlequin rasboras: 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. Harlequin rasboras don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful harlequin rasboras.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful harlequin rasboras.
- Ropefish: Ropefish can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Severum: Severum can eat harlequin rasboras: 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. Harlequin rasboras don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with harlequin rasboras?
Good tank mates for harlequin rasboras include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat harlequin rasboras.
Can harlequin rasboras live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Angelfish may eat harlequin rasboras, especially young or small ones. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller harlequin rasboras.
Can harlequin rasboras live with bettas?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–27°C (75–81°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can harlequin rasboras live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can harlequin rasboras live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°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.