Tank mates for cardinal tetras
We checked cardinal tetras against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for cardinal tetras include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. Avoid angelfish, common goldfish and oscar: angelfish can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Cardinal tetras: 23–28°C (73–82°F), pH 4.5–7, adult size 4 cm (1.6 in), minimum tank 15 gallons (57 L). Full cardinal tetra care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (96)
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+
Cardinal tetra 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+
Cardinal 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+
Boesemani rainbowfish
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Cardinal 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+
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
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
Cardinal 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+
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+
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+
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
Cardinal 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+
Zebra pleco
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
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+
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
Caution Possible, with care (27)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- 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.
- Tiger barb · 29+ gal
- Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like cardinal tetras.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cardinal tetras.
- Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase cardinal tetras, which use the same area.
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Clown loach grows much larger than cardinal tetras and may swallow them as it grows.
- Discus · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 28–28°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.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cardinal tetras.
- German blue ram · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
- 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.
- Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Kribensis is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cardinal tetras.
- Molly · 29+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (4.5–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
- One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 1–8 vs 15–30 dGH).
- Mystery snail · 10+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (4.5–7 vs 7.2–8).
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cardinal tetras.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cardinal 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
- Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cardinal tetras.
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like cardinal tetras.
- Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
- Bumblebee catfish may eat cardinal tetras, especially young or small ones.
- Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- 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.
- 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 cardinal tetras.
- Kissing gourami grows much larger than cardinal tetras and may swallow them as it grows.
- 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 (4.5–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like cardinal tetras.
- Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- 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 (26)
- Angelfish: Angelfish can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Cardinal tetra 23–28°C (73–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F). Common goldfish can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Oscar: Oscar can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat cardinal 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 cardinal tetras.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cardinal tetras.
- Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat cardinal 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. Cardinal tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cardinal tetras.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cardinal 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. Cardinal tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat cardinal 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 cardinal 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. Cardinal tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Cardinal tetra 23–28°C (73–82°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
- African butterfly fish: African butterfly fish can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat cardinal 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 cardinal 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. Cardinal tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: They need very different water: pH 4.5–7 vs 8–9. Frontosa can eat cardinal 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. Cardinal tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Golden wonder killifish: Golden wonder killifish can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cardinal tetras.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cardinal tetras.
- Ropefish: Ropefish can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Severum: Severum can eat cardinal 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. Cardinal tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with cardinal tetras?
Good tank mates for cardinal tetras include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat cardinal tetras.
Can cardinal tetras live with angelfish?
No. Angelfish can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cardinal tetras.
Can cardinal tetras live with bettas?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–28°C (75–82°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can cardinal tetras live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (23–26°C (73–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can cardinal tetras live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (23–26°C (73–79°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.