Tank mates for dwarf neon rainbowfish
We checked dwarf neon rainbowfish against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for dwarf neon rainbowfish include betta fish, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami, neon tetra and panda corydoras. Avoid cherry shrimp, common goldfish and oscar: dwarf neon rainbowfish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
Dwarf neon rainbowfish: 23–27°C (73–81°F), pH 6.8–7.5, adult size 6 cm (2.4 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full dwarf neon rainbowfish care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (95)
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+
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+
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+
Ember tetra
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
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+
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+
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
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+
Three spot gourami
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal
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+
African butterfly fish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal
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+
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
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+
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+
Rabbit snail
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal
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+
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+
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+
Flame tetra
3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
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 (33)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- 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 dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Bala shark · 230+ gal
- Bala shark may eat dwarf neon rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase dwarf neon rainbowfish, 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 grows much larger than dwarf neon rainbowfish and may swallow them as it grows.
- 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 dwarf neon rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
- Electric blue acara is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- German blue ram · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
- Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish 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.
- Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
- Pictus catfish may eat dwarf neon rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- 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.
- Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish 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 dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- 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.
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish 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 dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- 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.
- Ropefish · 75+ gal
- Ropefish may eat dwarf neon rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- Severum · 55+ gal
- Severum may eat dwarf neon rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
- Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase dwarf neon rainbowfish, which use the same area.
- Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
- Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
- Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (6.8–7.5 vs 5–6.5).
- Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (6.8–7.5 vs 5–6.5).
- 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 (21)
- Cherry shrimp: Dwarf neon rainbowfish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Dwarf neon rainbowfish 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Oscar: Oscar can eat dwarf neon rainbowfish: 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 dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Dwarf neon rainbowfish 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. Dwarf neon rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat dwarf neon rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf neon rainbowfish. 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. Dwarf neon rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf neon rainbowfish. 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. Dwarf neon rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat dwarf neon rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Dwarf neon rainbowfish 23–27°C (73–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat dwarf neon rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Crystal red shrimp: Dwarf neon rainbowfish eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
- Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf neon rainbowfish. 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. Dwarf neon rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat dwarf neon rainbowfish: 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. Dwarf neon rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat dwarf neon rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- 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. Dwarf neon rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat dwarf neon rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with dwarf neon rainbowfish?
Good tank mates for dwarf neon rainbowfish include betta fish, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami, neon tetra and panda corydoras. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat dwarf neon rainbowfish.
Can dwarf neon rainbowfish live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller dwarf neon rainbowfish.
Can dwarf neon rainbowfish live with bettas?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–27°C (75–81°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can dwarf neon rainbowfish live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (23–26°C (73–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can dwarf neon rainbowfish 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.