Tank mates for diamond tetras
We checked diamond tetras against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for diamond tetras include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras, assassin snail and ramshorn snail. Avoid common goldfish, fancy goldfish and oscar: they need different temperatures: Diamond tetra 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
Diamond tetras: 24–28°C (75–82°F), pH 6–7, adult size 6 cm (2.4 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full diamond tetra care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (76)
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+
Diamond tetra will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Common pleco
40 cm (15.7 in) · 150+ gal
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
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+
Diamond 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+
Cardinal tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ 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+
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+
Diamond 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+
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
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 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
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Diamond 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
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
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+
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+
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+
Scarlet badis
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal
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+
Upside-down catfish
9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Vampire shrimp
10 cm (3.9 in) · 20+ gal
Diamond 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+
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+
Silvertip tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Caution Possible, with care (53)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
- Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller diamond tetras.
- Betta fish · 5+ gal
- Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
- Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
- Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of dwarf gouramis are an easy target.
- Guppy · 10+ gal
- Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
- Neon tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Tiger barb · 29+ gal
- Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like diamond tetras.
- Zebra danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Bala shark · 230+ gal
- Bala shark may eat diamond tetras, especially young or small ones.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller diamond tetras.
- Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase diamond tetras, which use the same area.
- Celestial pearl danio · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Clown loach grows much larger than diamond tetras and may swallow them as it grows.
- Denison barb · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Discus · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 28–28°C).
- Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
- Electric blue acara may eat diamond tetras, especially young or small ones.
- Electric blue acara is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller diamond tetras.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller diamond 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 24–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Honey gourami · 10+ gal
- Diamond 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 (6–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
- Mystery snail · 10+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (6–7 vs 7.2–8).
- Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
- Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of pearl gouramis are an easy target.
- Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Pictus catfish may eat diamond tetras, especially young or small ones.
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller diamond tetras.
- Rosy barb · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of three spot gouramis are an easy target.
- African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
- Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of african butterfly fish are an easy target.
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like diamond tetras.
- Congo tetra · 40+ gal
- Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
- Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Gardneri killifish · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Giant danio · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Gold barb · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°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 diamond tetras.
- Odessa barb · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Panda garra · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Paradise fish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°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 (6–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
- Ropefish · 75+ gal
- Ropefish may eat diamond tetras, especially young or small ones.
- Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Scissortail rasbora · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like diamond tetras.
- Severum · 55+ gal
- Severum may eat diamond tetras, especially young or small ones.
- Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller diamond tetras.
- Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase diamond tetras, which use the same area.
- Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
- Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
- Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Checkerboard barb · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
- Pearl danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Thick-lipped gourami · 20+ gal
- Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
- Variatus platy · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Avoid Bad tank mates (20)
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Diamond tetra 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Diamond tetra 24–28°C (75–82°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Oscar: Oscar can eat diamond 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 diamond tetras.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful diamond tetras.
- Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Diamond tetra 24–28°C (75–82°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°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. Diamond tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat diamond tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful diamond tetras.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful diamond 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. Diamond tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful diamond 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. Diamond tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat diamond tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Diamond tetra 24–28°C (75–82°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat diamond 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 diamond 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. Diamond tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: They need very different water: pH 6–7 vs 8–9. Frontosa can eat diamond 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. Diamond tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat diamond tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful diamond tetras.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful diamond 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. Diamond tetras don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat diamond tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with diamond tetras?
Good tank mates for diamond tetras include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras, assassin snail and ramshorn snail. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat diamond tetras.
Can diamond tetras live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller diamond tetras.
Can diamond tetras live with bettas?
Sometimes, with care. Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
Can diamond tetras live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can diamond tetras live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°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.