Tank mates for silvertip tetras

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

Good tank mates for silvertip tetras include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. Avoid common goldfish, oscar and bala shark: they need different temperatures: Silvertip tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).

Silvertip tetras: 23–27°C (73–81°F), pH 6–8, adult size 4.5 cm (1.8 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full silvertip tetra care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (88)

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.

  • Angelfish · 29+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
    • Angelfish may eat silvertip tetras, especially young or small ones.
    • Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller silvertip tetras.
  • Betta fish · 5+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
  • Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of dwarf gouramis are an easy target.
  • 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.
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of fancy goldfish are an easy target.
  • Guppy · 10+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Tiger barb · 29+ gal
    • Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like silvertip tetras.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller silvertip tetras.
    • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase silvertip 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 silvertip 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 silvertip 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.
  • Honey gourami · 10+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of honey gouramis are an easy target.
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Kribensis is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller silvertip tetras.
  • Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of pearl gouramis are an easy target.
  • Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
    • Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller silvertip tetras.
  • Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
    • Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller silvertip 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
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of three spot gouramis are an easy target.
    • Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller silvertip tetras.
  • African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of african butterfly fish are an easy target.
    • African butterfly fish may eat silvertip tetras, especially young or small ones.
    • African butterfly fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller silvertip tetras.
  • Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
    • Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like silvertip tetras.
  • Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat silvertip tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Congo tetra · 40+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • 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 silvertip tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
    • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller silvertip tetras.
    • Kissing gourami grows much larger than silvertip 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 silvertip tetras.
  • Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • 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).
  • Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
  • Thick-lipped gourami · 20+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
  • 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: Silvertip tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat silvertip tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bala shark: Bala shark can eat silvertip 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 silvertip tetras.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful silvertip tetras.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Silvertip tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat silvertip 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. Silvertip tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat silvertip tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful silvertip tetras.
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful silvertip 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. Silvertip tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat silvertip 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 silvertip 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. Silvertip tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat silvertip tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Silvertip 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 silvertip 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 silvertip 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. Silvertip tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa can eat silvertip 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. Silvertip tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Green terror: Green terror can eat silvertip tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful silvertip tetras.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful silvertip tetras.
  • Ropefish: Ropefish can eat silvertip tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Severum: Severum can eat silvertip 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. Silvertip tetras don't belong in that setup.
  • Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat silvertip tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with silvertip tetras?

Good tank mates for silvertip tetras include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco and bronze corydoras. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat silvertip tetras.

Can silvertip tetras live with angelfish?

Sometimes, with care. Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target. Angelfish may eat silvertip tetras, especially young or small ones.

Can silvertip tetras live with bettas?

Sometimes, with care. Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.

Can silvertip tetras live with bristlenose plecos?

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

Can silvertip 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.