Tank mates for bloodfin tetras
We checked bloodfin tetras against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for bloodfin tetras include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. Avoid oscar, bala shark and chinese algae eater: oscar can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Bloodfin tetras: 20–26°C (68–79°F), pH 6–8, adult size 5 cm (2 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full bloodfin tetra care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (96)
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+
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+
Bloodfin tetra will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
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+
Amano shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Bloodfin tetra 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+
Dojo loach
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 3+
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+
Bloodfin tetra 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+
Harlequin rasbora
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Hillstream loach
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 3+
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
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+
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
Rosy barb
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Bloodfin tetra 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+
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
Crystal red shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Bloodfin tetra 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+
Dwarf orange crayfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 10+ gal
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+
Gold barb
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+
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+
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
Bloodfin tetra 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+
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+
Variatus platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Caution Possible, with care (30)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
- Angelfish may eat bloodfin tetras, especially young or small ones.
- Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bloodfin tetras.
- Betta fish · 5+ gal
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
- Betta fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase bloodfin tetras, which use the same area.
- Common goldfish · 75+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Common goldfish may eat bloodfin tetras, especially young or small ones.
- Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of dwarf gouramis are an easy target.
- Dwarf gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase bloodfin tetras, which use the same area.
- Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of fancy goldfish are an easy target.
- Guppy · 10+ gal
- Bloodfin 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 bloodfin tetras.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bloodfin tetras.
- Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Clown loach grows much larger than bloodfin tetras and may swallow them as it grows.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bloodfin tetras.
- Honey gourami · 10+ gal
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of honey gouramis are an easy target.
- Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of pearl gouramis are an easy target.
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bloodfin tetras.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bloodfin tetras.
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of three spot gouramis are an easy target.
- Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bloodfin tetras.
- Three spot gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase bloodfin tetras, which use the same area.
- White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of african butterfly fish are an easy target.
- African butterfly fish may eat bloodfin tetras, especially young or small ones.
- African butterfly fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bloodfin tetras.
- African butterfly fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase bloodfin tetras, which use the same area.
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like bloodfin tetras.
- Congo tetra · 40+ gal
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
- Golden wonder killifish · 20+ gal
- Golden wonder killifish may eat bloodfin tetras, especially young or small ones.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bloodfin tetras.
- Kissing gourami grows much larger than bloodfin tetras and may swallow them as it grows.
- Paradise fish · 20+ gal
- Paradise fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase bloodfin tetras, which use the same area.
- Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like bloodfin tetras.
- Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
- Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Thick-lipped gourami · 20+ gal
- Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
Avoid Bad tank mates (23)
- Oscar: Oscar can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat bloodfin 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 bloodfin tetras.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bloodfin tetras.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Bloodfin tetra 20–26°C (68–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat bloodfin 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. Bloodfin tetras don't belong in that setup.
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Bloodfin tetra 20–26°C (68–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bloodfin tetras.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bloodfin 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. Bloodfin tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat bloodfin tetras: 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 bloodfin 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. Bloodfin tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat bloodfin tetras: 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 bloodfin 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. Bloodfin tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat bloodfin 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. Bloodfin tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bloodfin tetras.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bloodfin tetras.
- Ropefish: Ropefish can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Severum: Severum can eat bloodfin 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. Bloodfin tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with bloodfin tetras?
Good tank mates for bloodfin tetras include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat bloodfin tetras.
Can bloodfin tetras live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target. Angelfish may eat bloodfin tetras, especially young or small ones.
Can bloodfin tetras live with bettas?
Sometimes, with care. Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target. Betta fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase bloodfin tetras, which use the same area.
Can bloodfin tetras live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can bloodfin tetras live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (21–26°C (70–79°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.