Tank mates for threadfin rainbowfish

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

Good tank mates for threadfin rainbowfish include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras and assassin snail. Avoid angelfish, betta fish and common goldfish: angelfish can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Threadfin rainbowfish: 24–28°C (75–82°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 4 cm (1.6 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full threadfin rainbowfish care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (70)

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

Caution Possible, with care (46)

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

  • Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
    • Dwarf gourami sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • 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).
  • Zebra danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Zebra danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Black skirt tetra · 20+ gal
    • Black skirt tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller threadfin rainbowfish.
    • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase threadfin rainbowfish, which use the same area.
  • Celestial pearl danio · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Clown loach · 180+ gal
    • Clown loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
    • Clown loach grows much larger than threadfin rainbowfish and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Denison barb · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Denison barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Discus · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 28–28°C).
  • Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller threadfin rainbowfish.
  • German blue ram · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°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.
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Kribensis sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
    • Kribensis is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller threadfin rainbowfish.
  • 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 threadfin rainbowfish.
  • Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
    • Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller threadfin rainbowfish.
  • 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.
    • Rosy barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Three spot gourami sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
    • Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller threadfin rainbowfish.
  • Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
    • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Black phantom tetra · 20+ gal
    • Black phantom tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
    • Bleeding heart tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Bloodfin tetra · 20+ gal
    • Bloodfin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
    • Bumblebee catfish may eat threadfin rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
  • Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
    • Diamond tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
    • Dwarf chain loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • 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.
    • Dwarf orange crayfish sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • 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).
    • Giant danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • 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.
    • Gold barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
    • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller threadfin rainbowfish.
    • Kissing gourami grows much larger than threadfin rainbowfish and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Odessa barb · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Odessa barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Panda garra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Penguin tetra · 20+ gal
    • Penguin tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • 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).
  • Swordtail · 29+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Zebra loach · 29+ gal
    • Zebra loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Black ruby barb · 20+ gal
    • Black ruby barb sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Checkerboard barb · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • Glowlight danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Pearl danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Pearl danio sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Silvertip tetra · 20+ gal
    • Silvertip tetra sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • 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 (33)

  • Angelfish: Angelfish can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Betta fish: Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like threadfin rainbowfish, mistaking them for rivals.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Threadfin rainbowfish 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F). Common goldfish can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Threadfin rainbowfish 24–28°C (75–82°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Tiger barb: Tiger barb is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish.
  • Bala shark: Bala shark can eat threadfin rainbowfish: 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 threadfin rainbowfish.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful threadfin rainbowfish.
  • Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Threadfin rainbowfish 24–28°C (75–82°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat threadfin rainbowfish: 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. Threadfin rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful threadfin rainbowfish.
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish. Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful threadfin 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. Threadfin rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat threadfin rainbowfish: 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 threadfin 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. Threadfin rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Threadfin rainbowfish 24–28°C (75–82°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
  • African butterfly fish: African butterfly fish can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Buenos Aires tetra: Buenos Aires tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful threadfin 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. Threadfin rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa can eat threadfin rainbowfish: 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. Threadfin rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Golden wonder killifish: Golden wonder killifish can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Green terror: Green terror can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful threadfin rainbowfish.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful threadfin rainbowfish.
  • Paradise fish: Paradise fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like threadfin rainbowfish, mistaking them for rivals.
  • Ropefish: Ropefish can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Serpae tetra: Serpae tetra is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish.
  • Severum: Severum can eat threadfin rainbowfish: 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. Threadfin rainbowfish don't belong in that setup.
  • Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with threadfin rainbowfish?

Good tank mates for threadfin rainbowfish include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras and assassin snail. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat threadfin rainbowfish.

Can threadfin rainbowfish live with angelfish?

No. Angelfish can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller threadfin rainbowfish.

Can threadfin rainbowfish live with bettas?

No. Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like threadfin rainbowfish, mistaking them for rivals.

Can threadfin rainbowfish live with bristlenose plecos?

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

Can threadfin 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.