Tank mates for gardneri killifish
We checked gardneri killifish against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for gardneri killifish include nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. Avoid cherry shrimp, oscar and boesemani rainbowfish: gardneri killifish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
Gardneri killifish: 21–25°C (70–77°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 6 cm (2.4 in), minimum tank 10 gallons (38 L). Full gardneri killifish care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (68)
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+
Common pleco
40 cm (15.7 in) · 150+ 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+
Tiger barb
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+
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+
Cherry barb
5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Harlequin rasbora
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Hillstream loach
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 3+
Honey gourami
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Julii corydoras
5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal
Mystery snail
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Peppered corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Rainbow shark
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal
Red-tail shark
12 cm (4.7 in) · 75+ gal
Rosy barb
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Siamese algae eater
15 cm (5.9 in) · 55+ gal
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Buenos Aires tetra
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+
Bumblebee catfish
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal
Clown killifish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Congo tetra
8 cm (3.1 in) · 40+ 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+
Giant danio
10 cm (3.9 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Glass catfish
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Gold barb
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+
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+
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+
Paradise fish
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Peacock gudgeon
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 2+
Penguin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Rubber lip pleco
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal
Scissortail rasbora
12 cm (4.7 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Serpae tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 10+
Swordtail
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Turquoise rainbowfish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Glowlight danio
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Keyhole cichlid
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+
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
Variatus platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Caution Possible, with care (62)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Betta fish · 5+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Common goldfish · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 21–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
- Gardneri killifish hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Bala shark · 230+ gal
- Bala shark may eat gardneri killifish, especially young or small ones.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase gardneri killifish, which use the same area.
- Celestial pearl danio · 10+ gal
- Gardneri killifish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
- Chili rasbora · 10+ gal
- Gardneri killifish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller chili rasboras.
- Chinese algae eater · 80+ gal
- Chinese algae eater is aggressive. Gardneri killifish can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Clown loach grows much larger than gardneri killifish and may swallow them as it grows.
- Convict cichlid · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Convict cichlid is aggressive. Gardneri killifish can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
- Dojo loach · 75+ gal
- 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 gardneri killifish, especially young or small ones.
- Ember tetra · 10+ gal
- Gardneri killifish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller ember tetras.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
- Gardneri killifish hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Glowlight tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Kuhli loach · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Molly · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 3–10 vs 15–30 dGH).
- Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
- Pictus catfish may eat gardneri killifish, especially young or small ones.
- Pygmy corydoras · 10+ gal
- Gardneri killifish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller pygmy corydoras.
- Rummy-nose tetra · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Silver dollar · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 21–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- X-ray tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
- Gardneri killifish hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Clown pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
- Gardneri killifish may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
- Endler's livebearer · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Forktail blue-eye · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Jewel cichlid · 40+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Gardneri killifish can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
- Jewel cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase gardneri killifish, which use the same area.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Kubotai rasbora · 15+ gal
- Gardneri killifish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller kubotai rasboras.
- Marbled hatchetfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Red rainbowfish · 40+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Ropefish · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Ropefish may eat gardneri killifish, especially young or small ones.
- Rosy loach · 15+ gal
- Gardneri killifish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller rosy loaches.
- Rosy tetra · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Scarlet badis · 10+ gal
- Gardneri killifish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller scarlet badis.
- Severum · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Severum may eat gardneri killifish, especially young or small ones.
- Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase gardneri killifish, which use the same area.
- Sparkling gourami · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
- Gardneri killifish may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
- Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Upside-down catfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Gardneri killifish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
- Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Gardneri killifish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller dwarf rasboras.
- Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Gardneri killifish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
- Least killifish · 10+ gal
- Gardneri killifish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller least killifish.
- Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
Avoid Bad tank mates (19)
- Cherry shrimp: Gardneri killifish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Oscar: Oscar can eat gardneri killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Boesemani rainbowfish: They need different temperatures: Gardneri killifish 21–25°C (70–77°F), boesemani rainbowfish 26–29°C (79–84°F).
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Gardneri killifish 21–25°C (70–77°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. Gardneri killifish don't belong in that setup.
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Gardneri killifish 21–25°C (70–77°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat gardneri killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Pea puffer: 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. Gardneri killifish don't belong in that setup.
- Red zebra cichlid: 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. Gardneri killifish don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat gardneri killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat gardneri killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Crystal red shrimp: Gardneri killifish eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
- Demasoni cichlid: 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. Gardneri killifish don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat gardneri killifish: 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. Gardneri killifish don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat gardneri killifish: 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. Gardneri killifish don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat gardneri killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Zebra pleco: They need different temperatures: Gardneri killifish 21–25°C (70–77°F), zebra pleco 26–30°C (79–86°F).
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with gardneri killifish?
Good tank mates for gardneri killifish include nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat gardneri killifish.
Can gardneri killifish live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
Can gardneri killifish live with bettas?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
Can gardneri killifish live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (22–25°C (72–77°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can gardneri killifish live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (21–25°C (70–77°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.