Neon Tetra Tank Mates: 10 Best Picks For You
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Neon tetras are one of the most popular freshwater fish among all fish hobbyists. Lots of aquarists want to make a community tank by focusing on them.
Now, to create a community tank some tank mates of neon tetras are required. Those tank mates should be friendly, docile & freshwater species. So this article has discussed the 10 most suitable Tank Mates of Neon Tetra only for you. So without wasting time let’s dive deep into the topic.
10 most suitable Tank Mates of Neon Tetra
Before selecting tank mates of neon tetras you must check the adult size and the nature of the fish. A particular fish should not grow more than 2-3 inches long. Moreover, shoaling fish is the first priority as tank mates of neon tetra. Now let’s know the options.
1. Zebra Danios
Zebra Danio is one of the maximum appropriate tank mates of Neon Tetras. It is because they are quite similar to each other. Both are active slender-bodied freshwater fish.
Ideally, you can keep 5-7 danios in a 25-gallon tank. A tank that is smaller than 10 gallons is not a good fit for zebra danios. Neon tetras are mainly med dwellers whereas danios roam at the top level of the water so they will not compete for swimming spaces.
To keep both of them happy & healthy add gravel and vegetation inside the tank. A heavily planted tank is the most suitable for zebra danio. They are hyperactive fish that want lots of room to swim in the top stage of the neon tetra tank.
Zebra danios aren’t competitive, so you can stock this tiny fish in a neon tetra tank. Although zebra danios are peaceful, they may be energetic swimmers like neon tetra.
Read More:- Top 7 Friendliest Fish Breeds For Your Aquarium
2. Harlequin Rasbora
Harlequin rasboras are another good tank mate of neon tetras. Both of them are too pretty for a freshwater tank. They compliment each other on their appearance.
Harlequin Rasbora has a diamond Shaped frame with a dramatic taper to the tail. Most of the frame is blanketed in a pinkish-orange hue. They have a black mark along with the body that attracts the most.
Harlequin rasboras are a great preference for children and amateur aquarium enthusiasts. This fish is mainly mid-dwellers. They are good at shoaling fish that help children to learn about pets.
Harlequin rasboras are non-violent fish and can live with any type of freshwater tiny peaceful fish. They are favorites because of their size, appearance & behavior.
3. Hatchetfish
Hatchetfish are considered the good tank mates of neon tetra. However, they are not as good as zebra danios. They are peaceful in nature & have a unique body shape. So you can consider them in the same tank with neons.
Generally, hatchet fish are top dwellers. They roam at the very top portion of the water. So they need a lot of space to swim. So sometimes they can create trouble during feeding time. To get rid of this issue choose some type of sinkable food for neons.
At least a 20-gallon aquarium is good to keep both neon tetras & hatchetfish. They prefer to eat small insects, and flake foods. Sometimes they jump out of the water to get small insects from the tank. So always keep a lid on the tank.
4. Dwarf Gourami
Dwarf gouramis are one of the most curious & colorful tank buddies of neon tetras. They are famous for their appearance. Reddish orange with silvery blue is their main body color. Not only that but you can notice red stripes across their body too.
Dwarf gourami can’t live in dirty water. So they require weekly water changes of 25–30%. Adding live plants may help to improve the water quality. So a planted tank is the most recommended for both of these fish.
Despite being an aggressive fish, dwarf gourami won’t harm your neon tetras. Neon tetras are quick. So they can’t become its prey anyhow.
Dwarf gouramis are not a good shoaling fish like neon tetras. So a maximum pair is recommended for a 20-gallon tank. Don’t consider keeping two males in a neon tetra tank anyhow.
5. Guppy
Guppies are one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish species & the most suitable for neon tetras because of their appearance, behavior & nature.
Guppies don’t have any aggressive or territorial tendencies. They are recognizable due to their small, slim bodies. They are hardy & energetic like neon tetras.
A properly maintained tank can house fancy guppies and neon tetras very well. In this can, you must keep the water quality well. A 20-gallon tank is appropriate for guppies and neon tetras together.
Read More:- 10 Best Tank Mates Of Guppy: Choose According To Tank Size
6. Chili Rasbora
Chili Rasboras are another good option to keep as a tank mate of neon tetras. They are chosen because of their behavior, appearance & size.
They grow very small in size. Adult chili rasboras grow up to 0.7 inches long whereas neon tetras’ length is around 1.5 inches long. From this comparison, it is easily understandable that chili rasboras can cope with neons easily.
Chili Rasboras are generally mid-dwellers like neon tetras. However, they roam around the bottom or top of the tank too. So this red-colored fish can add contrast to your neon tetra tank.
Chili Rasboras are very well-known shoaling fish. They are timid too. So the addition of this fish can change the dynamics of your neon tetra tank.
7. Kuhli Loach
If you need a special type of fish as the tank mates of neon tetras then you can consider kuhli loaches for it. They are famous among aquarists for their eel-like body shape & nature.
The kuhli loach is a small clean water fish. This snake-like creature is very slim. Kuhli loaches can be interesting for you because they are the nocturnal species.
Another important characteristic of kuhli loaches is their algae-eating capability. If you keep kuhli loaches in a neon tetra tank then they may work as scavengers. So you don’t need to worry about uneaten foods.
To keep kuhli loaches with neon tetras you have to add ample hiding spots. In the daytime, kuhli loaches keep themselves hidden. Moreover, a soft substrate is recommended for this community tank.
Read More:- Bottom Dwelling Freshwater Fish: Choose From 9 Best Options
8. Otocinclus Catfish
Neon tetras can live with otocinclus catfish well. As they are so tiny and peaceful, they are considered good tank mates of neon tetras.
Like kuhli loaches, otocinclus catfish are algae eaters. They need a minimum of 10 gallons to thrive. If you don’t like nocturnal species in your aquarium then otocinclus could be a great option for your neon tetra tank
Otocinclus catfish aren’t active like neon tetras. They need ample hiding places in the aquarium. So it’s better to make a planted aquarium to keep otocinclus catfish with neon tetras together.
Read More:- How Many Algae Eaters For Fish Tank: 5, 20, 55, 60g & More
9. Cherry Shrimp
If you are not convinced by seeing the recommendations of fish as tank mates of neon tetras then you should try another species. Cherry shrimp is probably the most suitable in this case.
Cherry shrimp is one of the most peaceful, timid & freshwater species. They don’t bother about the fish in the tank. They gaze all around the substrate all day long.
To keep cherry shrimp healthy, you must build a heavily planted tank with java moss. The red-colored shrimp will make the neon tetra tank congruous.
Neon tetras are peaceful you already know so they also will not bother about red cherry shrimp. Not only that but cherry shrimps can help to clean the algae from the tank also.
10. Nerite Snail
Nerite snail is another friendly species that you can consider keeping in your neon tetra tank. They are more colorful than cherry shrimp. You can even find extraordinary patterns on their shells.
There are two main benefits to keeping nerite snails in your neon tetra tank. The first one is that they are very docile in nature. You don’t need to provide any extra care for these colorful species.
The second one is that nerite snails are great as scavengers. If you dislike algae-eating fish (i.e. otocinclus catfish, kuhli loaches) then nerite snails are the third option for you.
Read More:- Snails Appeared in Aquariums? 7 Effective Ways to Get Rid of It
Final Thoughts
From this article, you have known the 10 most suitable tank mates of Neon Tetra. Now you should definitely not choose every option. The tank mates should be chosen based upon the tank size, appearance, primary goal, etc.
As our recommendation, if you want to keep the aquarium clean then otocinclus catfish or nerite snails are great options.
Secondly, for the embellishment of the tank, harlequin rasboras are the most beautiful. However, you can choose zebra danios for a planted neon tetra tank also.
Lastly, for a nano tank, red cherry shrimps can be the best suit as neon tetra tank mates. They can complement each other too.
Best of luck and happy fish-keeping.
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