Can cardinal tetras live with assassin snails?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Cardinal tetras and assassin snails can share a tank, but watch one thing. Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.

Cardinal tetra76–84°F · pH 4.6–7

Assassin snail75–80°F · pH 7–8

What to watch

Watch outWater chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.

What works

Both are fine at 76–80°F.
They use different parts of the tank: cardinal tetras the mid, assassin snails the bottom.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Cardinal tetra	Assassin snail
Temperature	76–84 °F	75–80 °F
pH	4.6–7	7–8
Adult size	2.0 in	1.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	5 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Bottom
Group	Groups of 6+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for cardinal tetras

All cardinal tetra tank mates

Better tank mates for assassin snails

All assassin snail tank mates

Questions

Can cardinal tetras live with assassin snails?

Yes, with care. Cardinal tetras and assassin snails can share a tank, but watch one thing. Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.

What temperature suits both cardinal tetras and assassin snails?

76–80 °F. Cardinal tetras need 76–84 °F, assassin snails need 75–80 °F.

What size tank do cardinal tetras and assassin snails need together?

At least 20 gal, set by the cardinal tetra. Add space for each extra fish.