Tank mates for Congo tetras

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

Good tank mates for Congo tetras include nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. Avoid betta fish, cherry shrimp and common goldfish: betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like Congo tetras, mistaking them for rivals.

Congo tetras: 23–27°C (73–81°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 8 cm (3.1 in), minimum tank 40 gallons (151 L). Full congo tetra care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (84)

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

Caution Possible, with care (41)

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

  • Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
    • Dwarf gourami sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras 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.
  • Zebra danio · 20+ gal
    • Zebra danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Congo tetra hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Black skirt tetra · 20+ gal
    • Black skirt tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller Congo tetras.
    • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase Congo tetras, which use the same area.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
  • Clown loach · 180+ gal
    • Clown loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Denison barb · 75+ gal
    • Denison barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • 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.
  • German blue ram · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Congo 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.
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Kribensis sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • 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.
    • Rosy barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Three spot gourami sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
    • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Congo tetra hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Black ghost knifefish · 125+ gal
    • Black ghost knifefish may eat Congo tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Black phantom tetra · 20+ gal
    • Black phantom tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
    • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Bloodfin tetra · 20+ gal
    • Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
    • Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
    • Dwarf chain loach 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.
    • Congo tetra may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
    • Dwarf orange crayfish sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Giant danio · 55+ gal
    • Giant danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • 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.
    • Gold barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
    • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller Congo tetras.
  • Odessa barb · 20+ gal
    • Odessa barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Penguin tetra · 20+ gal
    • Penguin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Severum · 55+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller Congo tetras.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase Congo tetras, which use the same area.
  • Swordtail · 29+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Congo tetra may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Congo tetra hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Zebra loach · 29+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
  • Black ruby barb · 20+ gal
    • Black ruby barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
    • Glowlight danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Pearl danio · 20+ gal
    • Pearl danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Silvertip tetra · 20+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras 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 (24)

  • Betta fish: Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like Congo tetras, mistaking them for rivals.
  • Cherry shrimp: Congo tetra eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Congo tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat Congo tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Tiger barb: Tiger barb is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of Congo tetras.
  • Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Congo tetras.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Congo tetras.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Congo 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. Congo tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Congo tetras.
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of Congo tetras. Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Congo 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. Congo tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Congo 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. Congo tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat Congo tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Congo tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
  • Buenos Aires tetra: Buenos Aires tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of Congo tetras.
  • Crystal red shrimp: Congo tetra eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Congo 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. Congo tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa can eat Congo 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. Congo tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Congo tetras.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Congo tetras.
  • Paradise fish: Paradise fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like Congo tetras, mistaking them for rivals.
  • Serpae tetra: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of Congo 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. Congo tetras don't belong in that setup.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with Congo tetras?

Good tank mates for Congo tetras include nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat Congo tetras.

Can Congo tetras live with angelfish?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–27°C (75–81°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can Congo tetras live with bettas?

No. Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like Congo tetras, mistaking them for rivals.

Can Congo tetras live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes. They share similar water needs (23–26°C (73–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can Congo 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.