Can clown loaches live with cardinal tetras?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Clown loaches and cardinal tetras can share a tank, but watch one thing. A grown clown loach may treat small cardinal tetras as food, especially at night.

Clown loach77–86°F · pH 6–7.5

Cardinal tetra76–84°F · pH 4.6–7

What to watch

Watch outA grown clown loach may treat small cardinal tetras as food, especially at night.

What works

Both are fine at 77–84°F.
pH 6–7 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: clown loaches the bottom, cardinal 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	Cardinal tetra
Temperature	77–86 °F	76–84 °F
pH	6–7.5	4.6–7
Adult size	8.0 in	2.0 in
Minimum tank	75 gal	20 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 cardinal tetras

All cardinal tetra tank mates

Questions

Can clown loaches live with cardinal tetras?

Yes, with care. Clown loaches and cardinal tetras can share a tank, but watch one thing. A grown clown loach may treat small cardinal tetras as food, especially at night.

What temperature suits both clown loaches and cardinal tetras?

77–84 °F. Clown loaches need 77–86 °F, cardinal tetras need 76–84 °F.

What size tank do clown loaches and cardinal tetras need together?

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