Ember tetra tank mates

Good matches

50 of 98

The safest picks for ember tetras are bettas, kuhli loaches and guppies. Each match shares ember tetras' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

Tiny and peaceful; anything with a big mouth will eat them.

Temperature: 73–84°F
pH: 5.5–7
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum tank: 5 gal
With care: 29
Avoid: 19

How each group of fish does with ember tetras. Click through below for the reason behind every verdict.

Good tank mates

Possible, with care

Yoyo loach At 5 inches a yoyo loach can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Blue gourami At 5 inches a blue gourami can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Common pleco Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for ember tetras.
Mystery snail Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Ghost shrimp Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Clown loach At 8 inches a clown loach can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Firemouth cichlid At 6 inches a firemouth cichlid can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Severum At 8 inches a severum can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
African dwarf frog African dwarf frogs eat slowly and nearly blind. Fast ember tetras will take the food first, so target-feed them.
Endler's livebearer Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Rainbow shark At 6 inches a rainbow shark can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Silver dollar Silver dollars grow to 6 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for ember tetras.
Pearl gourami At 5 inches a pearl gourami can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Chinese algae eater Chinese algae eaters grow to 10 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for ember tetras.
Molly Different water: ember tetras want pH 5.5–7, mollies want pH 7.5–8.5.
Red tail shark At 5 inches a red tail shark can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Kissing gourami At 10 inches a kissing gourami can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Bala shark At 13 inches a bala shark can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Ramshorn snail Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Nerite snail Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Electric blue acara At 6 inches an electric blue acara can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Koi Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Assassin snail Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Dojo loach At 6 inches a dojo loach can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Platy Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Tinfoil barb At 12 inches a tinfoil barb can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Blood parrot At 8 inches a blood parrot can swallow a small ember tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Boesemani rainbowfish Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Swordtail Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.

Avoid

Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); ember tetras need 73–84°F. No temperature suits both.
Pea puffer Pea puffers are aggressive and will bully peaceful ember tetras.
Angelfish An adult angelfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 0.8 inches ember tetras do.
Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 0.8 inches ember tetras do.
Elephant nose fish At 9 inches an elephant nose fish can swallow a 0.8-inch ember tetra whole.
Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 0.8 inches ember tetras do.
Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 0.8 inches ember tetras do.
Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 0.8 inches ember tetras do.
Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful ember tetras.
Pictus catfish An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 0.8 inches ember tetras do.
Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); ember tetras need 73–84°F. They overlap only at 73–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 0.8 inches ember tetras do.
Discus At 6 inches a discus can swallow a 0.8-inch ember tetra whole.
African cichlid Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, ember tetras want pH 5.5–7.
Electric yellow cichlid Different water: ember tetras want pH 5.5–7, yellow labs want pH 7.8–8.6.
Peacock cichlid Different water: ember tetras want pH 5.5–7, peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
White cloud minnow White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); ember tetras need 73–84°F. No temperature suits both.
Fancy goldfish Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); ember tetras need 73–84°F. They overlap only at 73–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
Flowerhorn An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 0.8 inches ember tetras do.

Planning a mixed tank? The tank mate checker tests every pair at once. Or read the ember tetra care sheet.

Questions

What are the best tank mates for ember tetras?

Bettas, Kuhli loaches, Guppies, Apistogramma, Honey gouramis. They share ember tetras' temperature and pH and leave them alone.

What fish should not live with ember tetras?

Axolotls, Pea puffers, Angelfish, Black ghost knives, Elephant nose fish. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); ember tetras need 73–84°F. No temperature suits both.

How is compatibility checked?

Each pair is compared on temperature and pH overlap, adult size and mouth size, fin nipping, temperament and territory. The worst result decides the verdict.