Can koi live with black skirt tetras?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Koi and black skirt tetras can share a tank, but watch one thing. At 24 inches a koi can swallow a small black skirt tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

Koi59–77°F · pH 7–8.5

Black skirt tetra70–80°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outAt 24 inches a koi can swallow a small black skirt tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

What works

Both are fine at 70–77°F.
pH 7–7.5 suits both.

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

	Koi	Black skirt tetra
Temperature	59–77 °F	70–80 °F
pH	7–8.5	6–7.5
Adult size	24.0 in	2.5 in
Minimum tank	Pond	15 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	All levels	Middle
Group	Groups of 3+	Groups of 6+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for koi

All koi tank mates

Better tank mates for black skirt tetras

All black skirt tetra tank mates

Questions

Can koi live with black skirt tetras?

Yes, with care. Koi and black skirt tetras can share a tank, but watch one thing. At 24 inches a koi can swallow a small black skirt tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

What temperature suits both koi and black skirt tetras?

70–77 °F. Koi need 59–77 °F, black skirt tetras need 70–80 °F.

What size tank do koi and black skirt tetras need together?

A pond. Koi outgrow indoor tanks.