Tank mates for forktail blue-eyes
We checked forktail blue-eyes against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for forktail blue-eyes include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras and assassin snail. Avoid common goldfish, fancy goldfish and oscar: they need different temperatures: Forktail blue-eye 24–27°C (75–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
Forktail blue-eyes: 24–27°C (75–81°F), pH 7–8, adult size 5 cm (2 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full forktail blue-eye care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (80)
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+
Forktail blue-eye will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Common pleco
40 cm (15.7 in) · 150+ gal
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
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+
Forktail blue-eye 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+
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+
Forktail blue-eye 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+
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
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
Forktail blue-eye 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
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+
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+
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+
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+
Threadfin rainbowfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ 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
Forktail blue-eye 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+
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
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 (43)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Angelfish may eat forktail blue-eyes, especially young or small ones.
- Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller forktail blue-eyes.
- Betta fish · 5+ gal
- Betta fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase forktail blue-eyes, which use the same area.
- Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
- Dwarf gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase forktail blue-eyes, which use the same area.
- 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 forktail blue-eyes.
- Zebra danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller forktail blue-eyes.
- Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
- 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 forktail blue-eyes and may swallow them as it grows.
- Denison barb · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller forktail blue-eyes.
- German blue ram · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°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.
- Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller forktail blue-eyes.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller forktail blue-eyes.
- 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
- Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller forktail blue-eyes.
- Three spot gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase forktail blue-eyes, which use the same area.
- African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
- African butterfly fish may eat forktail blue-eyes, especially young or small ones.
- African butterfly fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller forktail blue-eyes.
- African butterfly fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase forktail blue-eyes, which use the same area.
- 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 forktail blue-eyes.
- Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 6–6.8).
- 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.
- Golden wonder killifish · 20+ gal
- Golden wonder killifish may eat forktail blue-eyes, especially young or small ones.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller forktail blue-eyes.
- Kissing gourami grows much larger than forktail blue-eyes and may swallow them as it grows.
- 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.
- Paradise fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase forktail blue-eyes, which use the same area.
- 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 forktail blue-eyes.
- Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
- Checkerboard barb · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 5–6.5).
- Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
- Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 5–6.5).
- Pearl danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- 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 (26)
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Forktail blue-eye 24–27°C (75–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Forktail blue-eye 24–27°C (75–81°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Oscar: Oscar can eat forktail blue-eyes: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat forktail blue-eyes: 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 forktail blue-eyes.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful forktail blue-eyes.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Forktail blue-eye 24–27°C (75–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Forktail blue-eye 24–27°C (75–81°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat forktail blue-eyes: 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. Forktail blue-eyes don't belong in that setup.
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat forktail blue-eyes: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful forktail blue-eyes.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful forktail blue-eyes. 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. Forktail blue-eyes don't belong in that setup.
- Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat forktail blue-eyes: 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 forktail blue-eyes. 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. Forktail blue-eyes don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat forktail blue-eyes: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Forktail blue-eye 24–27°C (75–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat forktail blue-eyes: 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 forktail blue-eyes. 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. Forktail blue-eyes don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat forktail blue-eyes: 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. Forktail blue-eyes don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat forktail blue-eyes: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful forktail blue-eyes.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful forktail blue-eyes.
- Ropefish: Ropefish can eat forktail blue-eyes: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Severum: Severum can eat forktail blue-eyes: 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. Forktail blue-eyes don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat forktail blue-eyes: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with forktail blue-eyes?
Good tank mates for forktail blue-eyes include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras and assassin snail. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat forktail blue-eyes.
Can forktail blue-eyes live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Angelfish may eat forktail blue-eyes, especially young or small ones. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller forktail blue-eyes.
Can forktail blue-eyes live with bettas?
Sometimes, with care. Betta fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase forktail blue-eyes, which use the same area.
Can forktail blue-eyes live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can forktail blue-eyes 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.