Can clown loaches live with black neon tetras?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Clown loaches and black neon tetras can share a tank, but watch one thing. At 8 inches a clown loach can swallow a small black neon tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

Clown loach77–86°F · pH 6–7.5

Black neon tetra73–81°F · pH 5.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outAt 8 inches a clown loach can swallow a small black neon tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Watch outClown loaches grow to 8 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for black neon tetras.

What works

Both are fine at 77–81°F.
pH 6–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: clown loaches the bottom, black neon tetras the mid.

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

	Clown loach	Black neon tetra
Temperature	77–86 °F	73–81 °F
pH	6–7.5	5.5–7.5
Adult size	8.0 in	1.5 in
Minimum tank	75 gal	15 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Groups of 5+	Groups of 6+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for clown loaches

All clown loach tank mates

Better tank mates for black neon tetras

All black neon tetra tank mates

Questions

Can clown loaches live with black neon tetras?

Yes, with care. Clown loaches and black neon tetras can share a tank, but watch one thing. At 8 inches a clown loach can swallow a small black neon tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

What temperature suits both clown loaches and black neon tetras?

77–81 °F. Clown loaches need 77–86 °F, black neon tetras need 73–81 °F.

What size tank do clown loaches and black neon tetras need together?

At least 75 gal, set by the clown loach. Add space for each extra fish.