Tank mates for head and tail light tetras

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

Good tank mates for head and tail light tetras include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. Avoid common goldfish, oscar and bala shark: they need different temperatures: Head and tail light tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).

Head and tail light tetras: 23–27°C (73–81°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 4.5 cm (1.8 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full head and tail light tetra care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (97)

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

Caution Possible, with care (28)

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

  • Angelfish · 29+ gal
    • Angelfish may eat head and tail light tetras, especially young or small ones.
    • Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller head and tail light tetras.
  • 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 head and tail light tetras.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller head and tail light tetras.
    • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase head and tail light 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 grows much larger than head and tail light tetras 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.
  • Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller head and tail light tetras.
  • 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 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 is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller head and tail light tetras.
  • Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
    • Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller head and tail light tetras.
  • Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
    • Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller head and tail light tetras.
  • 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.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller head and tail light tetras.
  • African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
    • African butterfly fish may eat head and tail light tetras, especially young or small ones.
    • African butterfly fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller head and tail light tetras.
  • Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
    • Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like head and tail light tetras.
  • Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat head and tail light tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Golden wonder killifish · 20+ gal
    • Golden wonder killifish may eat head and tail light tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
    • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller head and tail light tetras.
    • Kissing gourami grows much larger than head and tail light tetras and may swallow them as it grows.
  • 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.
  • Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
    • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like head and tail light tetras.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
  • Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
  • 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)

  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Head and tail light tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat head and tail light tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bala shark: Bala shark can eat head and tail light 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 head and tail light tetras.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful head and tail light tetras.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Head and tail light tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat head and tail light tetras: 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. Head and tail light tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat head and tail light tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful head and tail light tetras.
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful head and tail light 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. Head and tail light tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat head and tail light tetras: 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 head and tail light 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. Head and tail light tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat head and tail light tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Head and tail light tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
  • Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat head and tail light 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 head and tail light 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. Head and tail light tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa can eat head and tail light 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. Head and tail light tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Green terror: Green terror can eat head and tail light tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful head and tail light tetras.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful head and tail light tetras.
  • Ropefish: Ropefish can eat head and tail light tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Severum: Severum can eat head and tail light tetras: 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. Head and tail light tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat head and tail light tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with head and tail light tetras?

Good tank mates for head and tail light tetras include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat head and tail light tetras.

Can head and tail light tetras live with angelfish?

Sometimes, with care. Angelfish may eat head and tail light tetras, especially young or small ones. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller head and tail light tetras.

Can head and tail light tetras live with bettas?

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

Can head and tail light tetras live with bristlenose plecos?

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

Can head and tail light 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.