Tank mates for red rainbowfish

We checked red rainbowfish against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for red rainbowfish include betta fish, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. Avoid cherry shrimp, common goldfish and fancy goldfish: red rainbowfish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.

Red rainbowfish: 24–28°C (75–82°F), pH 7–8, adult size 12 cm (4.7 in), minimum tank 40 gallons (151 L). Full red rainbowfish care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (94)

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

Caution Possible, with care (37)

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

  • Neon tetra · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Oscar · 75+ gal
    • Oscar may eat red rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller red rainbowfish.
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase red rainbowfish, which use the same area.
  • Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Zebra danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Red rainbowfish hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase red rainbowfish, which use the same area.
  • Celestial pearl danio · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • 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).
  • German blue ram · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Red rainbowfish hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • 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).
  • Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • 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.
  • Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller red rainbowfish.
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Red rainbowfish hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°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.
    • Red rainbowfish may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • Severum · 55+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase red rainbowfish, which use the same area.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Red rainbowfish may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Red rainbowfish hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • 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 (18)

  • Cherry shrimp: Red rainbowfish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Red rainbowfish 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Red rainbowfish 24–28°C (75–82°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful red rainbowfish.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful red rainbowfish.
  • Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Red rainbowfish 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. Red rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful red rainbowfish.
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful red 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. Red rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful red 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. Red rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Red rainbowfish 24–28°C (75–82°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
  • Crystal red shrimp: Red rainbowfish eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful red 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. Red rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: 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. Red rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful red rainbowfish.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful red 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. Red rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with red rainbowfish?

Good tank mates for red rainbowfish include betta fish, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat red rainbowfish.

Can red rainbowfish live with angelfish?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–28°C (75–82°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can red rainbowfish live with bettas?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–28°C (75–82°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can red rainbowfish live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can red rainbowfish 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.