Serpae tetra Tank Mates
Short answer: the best serpae tetra tank mates are Dwarf gourami, Bristlenose pleco, Molly, Nerite snail, Amano shrimp, Endler's livebearer. Serpae tetras need 68–82 °F (20–28 °C), pH 5–7.5 and at least 20 gallons. Keep them in a group of 6 or more.
Serpae tetra care at a glance
| Adult size | 1.8 in (4.5 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 20 US gallons |
| Temperature | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) |
| pH | 5–7.5 |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Groups of 6+ |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (27)
- Dwarf gourami
- Bristlenose pleco
- Molly
- Tiger barb
- Nerite snail
- Amano shrimp
- Endler's livebearer
- Mystery snail
- Otocinclus
- Panda cory
- Black skirt tetra
- Bronze cory
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Zebra danio
- Swordtail
- Rainbow shark
- Red tail shark
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Clown loach
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid
- Forktail blue-eye
- Peppered cory
- Sterbai cory
- Buenos Aires tetra
- Bolivian ram
⚠️ Possible with caution (34)
- Cherry shrimp — Serpae tetra will eat baby cherry shrimp (and some individuals hunt adults), so a shrimp colony may not grow. Dense plants and moss help.
- Harlequin rasbora — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like harlequin rasbora; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Neon tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like neon tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Platy — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like platy; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive; serpae tetra may get into fights with it.
- Celestial pearl danio — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like celestial pearl danio; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Chili rasbora — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like chili rasbora; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Ember tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like ember tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Cardinal tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like cardinal tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Cherry barb — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like cherry barb; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- German blue ram — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Serpae tetra 20–28 °C (68–82 °F).
- Glowlight tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like glowlight tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Rummy nose tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like rummy nose tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- White cloud mountain minnow — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like white cloud mountain minnow; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Kribensis — Kribensis is a much larger territorial fish and may bully serpae tetra.
- Pearl gourami — An adult pearl gourami (up to 12 cm) may try to eat smaller serpae tetra (4.5 cm), especially at night.
- Three spot gourami — An adult three spot gourami (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller serpae tetra (4.5 cm), especially at night.
- Discus — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like discus; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Pygmy cory — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like pygmy cory; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Sparkling gourami — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like sparkling gourami; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Black neon tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like black neon tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Bloodfin tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like bloodfin tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like dwarf neon rainbowfish; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Glass catfish — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like glass catfish; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Lemon tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like lemon tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- X-ray tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like X-ray tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Congo tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like Congo tetra; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Gold barb — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like gold barb; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Odessa barb — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like Odessa barb; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Rosy barb — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like rosy barb; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Upside-down catfish — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like upside-down catfish; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Firemouth cichlid — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller serpae tetra (4.5 cm), especially at night.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Serpae tetra 20–28 °C (68–82 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
❌ Not recommended (10)
- Betta fish — Serpae tetra is a known fin-nipper and will shred the long fins of betta fish.
- Guppy — Serpae tetra is a known fin-nipper and will shred the long fins of guppy.
- Fancy goldfish — An adult fancy goldfish (up to 20 cm) is big enough to eat serpae tetra (4.5 cm).
- Angelfish — Serpae tetra is a known fin-nipper and will shred the long fins of angelfish.
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat serpae tetra (4.5 cm).
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for serpae tetra.
- Paradise fish — Paradise fish is aggressive and much larger than serpae tetra; it will bully or injure it.
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and much larger than serpae tetra; it will bully or injure it.
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat serpae tetra (4.5 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat serpae tetra (4.5 cm).
How many serpae tetras per tank?
20 gal 29 gal 40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with serpae tetras?
Good matches include Dwarf gourami, Bristlenose pleco, Molly, Nerite snail, Amano shrimp, Endler's livebearer. They share a temperature range with serpae tetras (68–82 °F (20–28 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with serpae tetras?
Avoid Betta fish, Guppy, Fancy goldfish, Angelfish, Oscar, Electric yellow cichlid.
What size tank do serpae tetras need?
We recommend at least 20 US gallons for a group of 6 serpae tetras, more if you add tank mates.
Can serpae tetras live alone?
No. Serpae tetras are social and should be kept in groups of at least 6.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.