Tank mates for serpae tetras

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

Good tank mates for serpae tetras include nerite snail, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras, tiger barb, assassin snail and ramshorn snail. Avoid angelfish, betta fish and cherry shrimp: serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of angelfish.

Serpae tetras: 22–26°C (72–79°F), pH 5.5–7.5, adult size 4.5 cm (1.8 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full serpae tetra care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (36)

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

Caution Possible, with care (78)

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

  • 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 serpae tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Neon tetra · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like neon tetras.
  • Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like panda corydoras.
  • Zebra danio · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like zebra danios.
  • African dwarf frog · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like African dwarf frogs.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Black skirt tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like black skirt tetras.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase serpae tetras, which use the same area.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
  • Cardinal tetra · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like cardinal tetras.
  • Celestial pearl danio · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like celestial pearl danios.
  • Cherry barb · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like cherry barbs.
  • Chili rasbora · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like chili rasboras.
    • Serpae tetra is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller chili rasboras.
  • Chinese algae eater · 80+ gal
    • Chinese algae eater is aggressive. Serpae tetras can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Clown loach · 180+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
    • Clown loach grows much larger than serpae tetras and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Convict cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Convict cichlid may eat serpae tetras, especially young or small ones.
    • Convict cichlid is aggressive. Serpae tetras can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • 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.
  • Dwarf neon rainbowfish · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like dwarf neon rainbowfish.
  • Ember tetra · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like ember tetras.
    • Serpae tetra is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller ember tetras.
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Glowlight tetra · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like glowlight tetras.
  • Harlequin rasbora · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like harlequin rasboras.
  • Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like hillstream loaches.
  • Julii corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like julii corydoras.
  • Otocinclus · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like otocinclus.
  • Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like peppered corydoras.
  • Platy · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like platies.
  • Pygmy corydoras · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like pygmy corydoras.
  • 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
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like rummy-nose tetras.
  • Sterbai corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like sterbai corydoras.
  • 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.
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like white cloud mountain minnows.
  • X-ray tetra · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like x-ray tetras.
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Black neon tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like black neon tetras.
  • Black phantom tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like black phantom tetras.
  • Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like bleeding heart tetras.
  • Bloodfin tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like bloodfin tetras.
  • Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat serpae tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Clown killifish · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like clown killifish.
  • Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like diamond tetras.
  • Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like dwarf chain loaches.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Serpae tetra may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
  • Emperor tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like emperor tetras.
  • Endler's livebearer · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like Endler's livebearers.
  • Forktail blue-eye · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like forktail blue-eyes.
  • 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 serpae tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Head and tail light tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like head and tail light tetras.
  • Jewel cichlid · 40+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Serpae tetras can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
    • Jewel cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase serpae tetras, which use the same area.
  • Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
    • Kissing gourami grows much larger than serpae tetras and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Kubotai rasbora · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like kubotai rasboras.
    • Serpae tetra is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller kubotai rasboras.
  • Lambchop rasbora · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like lambchop rasboras.
  • Lemon tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like lemon tetras.
  • Marbled hatchetfish · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like marbled hatchetfish.
  • Odessa barb · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like odessa barbs.
  • Paradise fish · 20+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Peacock gudgeon · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like peacock gudgeons.
  • Penguin tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like penguin tetras.
  • Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
  • Rosy loach · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like rosy loaches.
  • Rosy tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like rosy tetras.
  • Scarlet badis · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like scarlet badis.
    • Serpae tetra is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller scarlet badis.
  • Sparkling gourami · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like sparkling gouramis.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Serpae tetra may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
  • Black ruby barb · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like black ruby barbs.
  • Checkerboard barb · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like checkerboard barbs.
  • Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like dwarf rasboras.
  • Flame tetra · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like flame tetras.
  • Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like glowlight danios.
  • Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like green neon tetras.
  • Least killifish · 10+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like least killifish.
  • Pearl danio · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like pearl danios.
  • Silvertip tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like silvertip tetras.
  • Variatus platy · 15+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like variatus platies.

Avoid Bad tank mates (35)

  • Angelfish: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of angelfish.
  • Betta fish: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of bettas.
  • Cherry shrimp: Serpae tetra eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Dwarf gourami: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of dwarf gouramis.
  • Fancy goldfish: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of fancy goldfish.
  • Guppy: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of guppies.
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bala shark: Bala shark can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Serpae tetra 22–26°C (72–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat serpae tetras: 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. Serpae tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Serpae tetra 22–26°C (72–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
  • Honey gourami: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of honey gouramis.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Pea puffer: 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. Serpae tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Pearl gourami: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of pearl gouramis.
  • Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Red zebra cichlid: 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. Serpae tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Three spot gourami: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of three spot gouramis.
  • African butterfly fish: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of african butterfly fish.
  • Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Congo tetra: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of Congo tetras.
  • Crystal red shrimp: Serpae tetra eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: 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. Serpae tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa can eat serpae 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. Serpae tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Green terror: Green terror can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Ropefish: Ropefish can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Severum: Severum can eat serpae tetras: 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. Serpae tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Threadfin rainbowfish: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish.
  • Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Moonlight gourami: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of moonlight gouramis.
  • Thick-lipped gourami: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with serpae tetras?

Good tank mates for serpae tetras include nerite snail, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras, tiger barb, assassin snail and ramshorn snail. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat serpae tetras.

Can serpae tetras live with angelfish?

No. Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of angelfish. Angelfish may eat serpae tetras, especially young or small ones.

Can serpae tetras live with bettas?

No. Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of bettas.

Can serpae tetras live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can serpae tetras 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.