What fish can live with Bloodfin 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 Bloodfin tetra against your own reading before you buy.

What tank mates should you avoid with Bloodfin tetra?

Avoid Oscar, Pea Puffer, Green Terror based on size, temperament, or predation risk on file.

What size tank do Bloodfin 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.

Bloodfin tetra tank mates

A hardy silver-bodied tetra with blood-red fins. Tolerant of a wide temperature range, peaceful, and works in most community setups.

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 Bloodfin 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 Bloodfin tetra profile lists Cherry Barb as a safe tank mate. 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 Bloodfin 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 Bloodfin tetra stays in the top, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
Dwarf Gourami Pair check
The Bloodfin tetra profile lists Dwarf Gourami as a recommended pairing. Dwarf Gourami is a peaceful beginner-care species with a 60L minimum. Run the pair checker for your specific tank before stocking.
Ember Tetra Pair check
The Bloodfin tetra profile lists Ember Tetra as a recommended pairing. Ember Tetra schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Glowlight Tetra Pair check
The Bloodfin tetra profile lists Glowlight Tetra as a safe tank mate. Glowlight Tetra schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Harlequin Rasbora Pair check
The Bloodfin tetra profile lists Harlequin Rasbora as 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 Bloodfin tetra profile lists Neon Tetra as a recommended pairing. Neon Tetra schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Pygmy Corydoras Pair check
The Bloodfin tetra profile lists Pygmy Corydoras as a safe tank mate. Pygmy Corydoras 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.

Angelfish Open pair check
Angelfish reaches 20cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Bloodfin tetra at 5cm is inside that gape range. Angelfish is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Bloodfin tetra. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Tiger Barb Open pair check
Tiger Barb is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Bloodfin tetra. Run the pair checker before stocking.
German Blue Ram Open pair check
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Jack Dempsey Open pair check
Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Bloodfin tetra at 5cm is inside that gape range. Jack Dempsey is rated aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Bloodfin tetra. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Betta Open pair check
Betta is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Bloodfin tetra. Run the pair checker before stocking.

Fish to avoid with Bloodfin tetra

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

Oscar See why (pair)
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Bloodfin tetra at 5cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 60L minimum for Bloodfin tetra. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Oscar is rated aggressive and Bloodfin tetra is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Pea Puffer See why (pair)
Pea Puffer conflicts with Bloodfin tetra on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
Green Terror See why (pair)
Green Terror reaches 30cm and is flagged predatory. Bloodfin tetra at 5cm is prey-sized for it. Green Terror needs at least 300L, far above the 60L minimum for Bloodfin tetra. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Green Terror is rated aggressive and Bloodfin tetra is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.

Tank size and groups

Published minimum for Bloodfin 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 Bloodfin tetra needs a filter rated for at least 240L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 20–28°C.

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