Tank mates for bleeding heart tetras

Good Compatible tank mates (86)

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

• 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+

• 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+

• Clown loach

  25 cm (9.8 in) · 180+ gal · groups of 5+

• 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+

• Firemouth cichlid

  13 cm (5.1 in) · 29+ gal

• Glowlight tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+

• Harlequin rasbora

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Julii corydoras

  5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Kribensis

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal

• Kuhli loach

  9 cm (3.5 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

• Red-tail shark

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 75+ 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

• 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+

• Bloodfin tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Bolivian ram

  8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal

• Bumblebee catfish

  7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ 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

• 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+

• 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+

• 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+

• 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+

• 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+

• 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+

• 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+

• 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+

Caution Possible, with care (43)

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

• Angelfish · 29+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
  • Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bleeding heart tetras.
• Betta fish · 5+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
• Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of dwarf gouramis are an easy target.
• Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of fancy goldfish are an easy target.
• Guppy · 10+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
• Tiger barb · 29+ gal
  • Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like bleeding heart tetras.
• Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
• Bala shark · 230+ gal
  • Bala shark may eat bleeding heart tetras, especially young or small ones.
• Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
  • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bleeding heart tetras.
  • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase bleeding heart tetras, which use the same area.
• Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
• Dojo loach · 75+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
  • Electric blue acara may eat bleeding heart tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Electric blue acara is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bleeding heart tetras.
• German blue ram · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
• Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
• Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Honey gourami · 10+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of honey gouramis are an easy target.
• Molly · 29+ gal
  • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5.5–7.2 vs 7.5–8.5).
• Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of pearl gouramis are an easy target.
• Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
  • Pictus catfish may eat bleeding heart tetras, especially young or small ones.
• Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
  • Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bleeding heart tetras.
• Rosy barb · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of three spot gouramis are an easy target.
• African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of african butterfly fish are an easy target.
• Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
• Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
  • Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like bleeding heart tetras.
• Congo tetra · 40+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
• Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Bleeding heart tetra may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
• Gold barb · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°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 bleeding heart tetras.
• Paradise fish · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
  • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5.5–7.2 vs 7.5–8.5).
• Ropefish · 75+ gal
  • Ropefish may eat bleeding heart tetras, especially young or small ones.
• Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
  • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like bleeding heart tetras.
• Severum · 55+ gal
  • Severum may eat bleeding heart tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bleeding heart tetras.
  • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase bleeding heart tetras, which use the same area.
• Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
• Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
• Tinfoil barb · 200+ gal
  • Tinfoil barb may eat bleeding heart tetras, especially young or small ones.
• Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
• Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
• Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
• Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
• Thick-lipped gourami · 20+ gal
  • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
• Variatus platy · 15+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.

Avoid Bad tank mates (20)

• Cherry shrimp: Bleeding heart tetra eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
• Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Bleeding heart tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
• Oscar: Oscar can eat bleeding heart 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 bleeding heart tetras.
• Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bleeding heart tetras.
• Discus: They need different temperatures: Bleeding heart tetra 23–27°C (73–81°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. Bleeding heart tetras don't belong in that setup.
• Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bleeding heart tetras.
• Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bleeding heart tetras. 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. Bleeding heart tetras don't belong in that setup.
• Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bleeding heart 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. Bleeding heart tetras don't belong in that setup.
• Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat bleeding heart tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
• White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Bleeding heart tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
• Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat bleeding heart tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
• Crystal red shrimp: Bleeding heart tetra eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
• Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bleeding heart 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. Bleeding heart tetras don't belong in that setup.
• Frontosa: They need very different water: pH 5.5–7.2 vs 8–9. Frontosa can eat bleeding heart 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. Bleeding heart tetras don't belong in that setup.
• Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bleeding heart tetras.
• Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bleeding heart tetras.
• 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. Bleeding heart tetras don't belong in that setup.