Tank mates for scissortail rasboras
We checked scissortail rasboras against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for scissortail rasboras include nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. Avoid cherry shrimp, boesemani rainbowfish and chili rasbora: scissortail rasbora eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
Scissortail rasboras: 22–25°C (72–77°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 12 cm (4.7 in), minimum tank 55 gallons (208 L). Full scissortail rasbora care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (68)
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+
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+
Tiger barb
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+
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+
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Bala shark
30 cm (11.8 in) · 230+ gal · groups of 5+
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+
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+
Electric blue acara
15 cm (5.9 in) · 40+ gal
Harlequin rasbora
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
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+
Pictus catfish
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 3+
Platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Rainbow shark
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal
Red-tail shark
12 cm (4.7 in) · 75+ gal
Siamese algae eater
15 cm (5.9 in) · 55+ gal
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Buenos Aires tetra
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+
Bumblebee catfish
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal
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+
Emerald green corydoras
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Emperor tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Golden wonder killifish
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Head and tail light tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Rubber lip pleco
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal
Serpae tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 10+
Swordtail
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Tinfoil barb
30 cm (11.8 in) · 200+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Keyhole cichlid
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+
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 (59)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Betta fish · 5+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Betta fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase scissortail rasboras, which use the same area.
- 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.
- Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Dwarf gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase scissortail rasboras, which use the same area.
- 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.
- Oscar · 75+ gal
- Oscar may eat scissortail rasboras, especially young or small ones.
- Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller scissortail rasboras.
- Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
- Scissortail rasbora hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Celestial pearl danio · 10+ gal
- Scissortail rasbora may eat celestial pearl danios, especially young or small ones.
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- 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
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
- Scissortail rasbora hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Glowlight tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°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
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- 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).
- Pygmy corydoras · 10+ gal
- Scissortail rasbora may eat pygmy corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Rosy barb · 29+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Rummy-nose tetra · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller scissortail rasboras.
- Silver dollar · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Three spot gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase scissortail rasboras, which use the same area.
- 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.
- 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).
- African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- African butterfly fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase scissortail rasboras, which use the same area.
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
- Scissortail rasbora hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Black ghost knifefish · 125+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- 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).
- 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).
- Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Scissortail rasbora may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
- 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).
- Gold barb · 29+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Marbled hatchetfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Paradise fish · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Paradise fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase scissortail rasboras, which use the same area.
- 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).
- Ropefish · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rosy loach · 15+ gal
- Scissortail rasbora may eat rosy loaches, especially young or small ones.
- Rosy tetra · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Severum · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Sparkling gourami · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
- Scissortail rasbora may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
- Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Upside-down catfish · 29+ 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).
- Scissortail rasbora hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Scissortail rasbora may eat dwarf rasboras, especially young or small ones.
- Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Scissortail rasbora may eat green neon tetras, especially young or small ones.
- Least killifish · 10+ gal
- Scissortail rasbora may eat least killifish, especially young or small ones.
- Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
Avoid Bad tank mates (22)
- Cherry shrimp: Scissortail rasbora eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Boesemani rainbowfish: They need different temperatures: Scissortail rasbora 22–25°C (72–77°F), boesemani rainbowfish 26–29°C (79–84°F).
- Chili rasbora: Scissortail rasbora can eat chili 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 scissortail rasboras.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful scissortail rasboras.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Scissortail rasbora 22–25°C (72–77°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- 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. Scissortail rasboras don't belong in that setup.
- Ember tetra: Scissortail rasbora can eat ember tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Scissortail rasbora 22–25°C (72–77°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful scissortail rasboras.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful scissortail 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. Scissortail rasboras don't belong in that setup.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful scissortail 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. Scissortail rasboras don't belong in that setup.
- Crystal red shrimp: Scissortail rasbora eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
- Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful scissortail 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. Scissortail rasboras don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: 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. Scissortail rasboras don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful scissortail rasboras.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful scissortail rasboras.
- Kubotai rasbora: Scissortail rasbora can eat kubotai rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Scarlet badis: Scissortail rasbora can eat scarlet badis: 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. Scissortail rasboras don't belong in that setup.
- Zebra pleco: They need different temperatures: Scissortail rasbora 22–25°C (72–77°F), zebra pleco 26–30°C (79–86°F).
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with scissortail rasboras?
Good tank mates for scissortail rasboras include nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat scissortail rasboras.
Can scissortail rasboras live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
Can scissortail rasboras live with bettas?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C). Betta fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase scissortail rasboras, which use the same area.
Can scissortail rasboras live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (22–25°C (72–77°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can scissortail rasboras live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (22–25°C (72–77°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.