Can pea puffers live with neon tetras?

Verdict
No

No. Pea puffers and neon tetras should not share a tank. Pea puffers are aggressive and will bully peaceful neon tetras.

Pea pufferPea puffer74–82°F · pH 7–8 Neon tetraNeon tetra72–79°F · pH 6–7

What to watch

What works

Water side by side

55°60°65°70°75°80°85°90°Both: 74–79°Pea puffer 74–82°Neon tetra 72–79°
The green band is the temperature range both can live in.
456789Both: 7Pea puffer 7–8Neon tetra 6–7
The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Pea puffer · 1 inNeon tetra · 1.5 in0"1"2"3"4"5"6"
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

Pea pufferNeon tetra
Temperature74–82 °F72–79 °F
pH7–86–7
Adult size1.0 in1.5 in
Minimum tank5 gal10 gal
TemperamentAggressivePeaceful
Swims atAll levelsMiddle
GroupAlone or in pairsGroups of 6+
DietCarnivoreOmnivore

Better tank mates for pea puffers

All pea puffer tank mates

Better tank mates for neon tetras

All neon tetra tank mates

Questions

Can pea puffers live with neon tetras?

No. Pea puffers and neon tetras should not share a tank. Pea puffers are aggressive and will bully peaceful neon tetras.

What temperature suits both pea puffers and neon tetras?

74–79 °F. Pea puffers need 74–82 °F, neon tetras need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do pea puffers and neon tetras need together?

At least 10 gal, set by the neon tetra. Add space for each extra fish.