What fish can live with Black Neon Tetra?

Use the "Often compatible" lists as a shortlist, not a stocking plan. Always run the pair tool and check the footprint of your actual tank first. Verify behaviour for Black Neon Tetra against your own reading before you buy.

What tank mates should you avoid with Black Neon Tetra?

Avoid Oscar, Jack Dempsey, Tiger Barb based on size, temperament, or predation risk on file.

What size tank do Black Neon Tetra need for a community?

60L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload headroom. Long-term, a 73L+ tank lets adults use the full footprint without crowding the next species. Footprint, meaning length and front-to-back depth, matters as much as raw volume for active or territorial species.

Black Neon Tetra tank mates

Tougher than regular neons in moderately hard water. The horizontal bar develops full colour at pH 6.5–7.2. A reliable community schooler.

Evidence: partially verified

Confidence: high

Lists below are built from this species record (safest, best with, risky, unsafe) — each link opens a pair-level check, not a guarantee.

← Full Black Neon Tetra profile·Compatibility checker·Tank builder·More tetra

Best tank mates (on file)

Merged from conservative safest and best with fields — de-duplicated by species.

Cherry Barb Pair check
The Black Neon Tetra profile lists Cherry Barb as both safe and a recommended pairing. Cherry Barb schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Corydoras Catfish Pair check
The Black Neon Tetra profile lists Corydoras Catfish as both safe and a recommended pairing. Corydoras Catfish schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Corydoras Catfish swims in the bottom zone while Black Neon Tetra stays in the middle, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
Dwarf Gourami Pair check
The Black Neon Tetra profile lists Dwarf Gourami as both safe and a recommended pairing. Dwarf Gourami grows bigger than Black Neon Tetra (8cm vs 4cm). Stock the Black Neon Tetra group large enough to outnumber the Dwarf Gourami, or the smaller fish ends up bullied or off food.
Harlequin Rasbora Pair check
The Black Neon Tetra profile lists Harlequin Rasbora as both safe and a recommended pairing. Harlequin Rasbora schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Neon Tetra Pair check
The Black Neon Tetra profile lists Neon Tetra as both safe and a recommended pairing. Neon Tetra schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.

Risky or situational

From risky tank mates and broad avoid with (excluding “unsafe” below). May work with species-only setups, more water, or mature systems — read the pair page.

None on file beyond the safe list.

Fish to avoid with Black Neon Tetra

From the unsafe list — predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile.

Oscar See why (pair)
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Black Neon Tetra at 4cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 60L minimum for Black Neon Tetra. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Oscar is rated aggressive and Black Neon Tetra is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Jack Dempsey See why (pair)
Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm and is flagged predatory. Black Neon Tetra at 4cm is prey-sized for it. Jack Dempsey needs at least 200L, far above the 60L minimum for Black Neon Tetra. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Jack Dempsey is rated aggressive and Black Neon Tetra is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Tiger Barb See why (pair)
Tiger Barb conflicts with Black Neon Tetra on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.

Tank size and groups

Published minimum for Black Neon Tetra: 60L — group minimum 6 (schooling).
Compatibility changes when the tank is too short for turning, too little for a real school, or too warm for one species and not the other — that is why pair checks include tank context, not only temperament.
Nearest litre hub to this minimum: 60L hub.

Plan before you buy

Pair checks for every mix, then multi-species stocking in the builder.

Open compatibility checker Tank builder

Filtration & heating

A 60L minimum tank for Black Neon Tetra needs a filter rated for at least 240L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 22–28°C.

Filter buying guide →Heater buying guide →Beginner plants guide →