Fish tank mate compatibility guides
Picking the wrong tank mates is one of the fastest ways to end up with a stressed community tank—nipped fins, hiding fish, and battles over territory. Whether you're planning your first community aquarium or adding to an established setup, compatibility matters as much as water chemistry. These guides focus on which fish can live together in real home tanks, not idealised shop-tank snapshots.
Each species below links to its own tank mate hub: what usually works, what often fails, and how temperature, temperament, and tank size shape the outcome. From there you can open pair-by-pair compatibility articles—detailed write-ups for specific combinations—so you can research the exact mix you have in mind before you buy.
For full care—tank size, diet, breeding, and disease—our knowledge base fish profiles go deeper; use the species links at the bottom of this page when you want the full species guide alongside these compatibility resources.
Showing 48 of 48 Species with Tank Mate Guides
Adolfos cory tank mates
Corydoras adolfoiCompatibility hubAdolfos cory: tank mate behavior, risky pairings, and links to full articles for each combination you might consider.
African rift cichlid tank mates
Mbuna / peacock typesCompatibility hubAfrican rift cichlid: tank mate behavior, risky pairings, and links to full articles for each combination you might consider.
Amano shrimp tank mates
Caridina multidentataCompatibility hubBuild a peaceful community around Amano shrimp. Quick verdicts, risk notes, and detailed pair pages so you can stock with confidence.
Angelfish tank mates
Pterophyllum scalareCompatibility hubWho can share a tank with Angelfish? This hub summarises compatible mixes, common pitfalls, and links to in-depth pair guides.
Betta tank mates
Betta splendensCompatibility hubBuild a peaceful community around Betta. Quick verdicts, risk notes, and detailed pair pages so you can stock with confidence.
Blenny tank mates
BlenniidaeCompatibility hubBuild a peaceful community around Blenny. Quick verdicts, risk notes, and detailed pair pages so you can stock with confidence.
Bristlenose pleco tank mates
Ancistrus spp.Compatibility hubWho can share a tank with Bristlenose pleco? This hub summarises compatible mixes, common pitfalls, and links to in-depth pair guides.
Cardinal tetra tank mates
Paracheirodon axelrodiCompatibility hubCardinal tetra: tank mate behavior, risky pairings, and links to full articles for each combination you might consider.
Cardinalfish tank mates
ApogonidaeCompatibility hubPlanning tank mates for Cardinalfish? See which species typically work, which to avoid, and open pair-by-pair compatibility write-ups.
Cherry shrimp tank mates
Neocaridina davidiCompatibility hubCompatibility for Cherry shrimp: temperament, space, and water needs—plus direct links to articles for specific tank mate combinations.
Cleaner shrimp tank mates
Lysmata amboinensisCompatibility hubCleaner shrimp: tank mate behavior, risky pairings, and links to full articles for each combination you might consider.
Clownfish tank mates
AmphiprioninaeCompatibility hubBuild a peaceful community around Clownfish. Quick verdicts, risk notes, and detailed pair pages so you can stock with confidence.
Common pleco tank mates
Hypostomus plecostomusCompatibility hubWho can share a tank with Common pleco? This hub summarises compatible mixes, common pitfalls, and links to in-depth pair guides.
Convict cichlid tank mates
Amatitlania nigrofasciataCompatibility hubBuild a peaceful community around Convict cichlid. Quick verdicts, risk notes, and detailed pair pages so you can stock with confidence.
Corydoras (typical) tank mates
Corydoras spp.Compatibility hubCompatibility for Corydoras (typical): temperament, space, and water needs—plus direct links to articles for specific tank mate combinations.
Damselfish tank mates
PomacentridaeCompatibility hubPlanning tank mates for Damselfish? See which species typically work, which to avoid, and open pair-by-pair compatibility write-ups.
Discus tank mates
Symphysodon spp.Compatibility hubPlanning tank mates for Discus? See which species typically work, which to avoid, and open pair-by-pair compatibility write-ups.
Firefish tank mates
Nemateleotris magnificaCompatibility hubBuild a peaceful community around Firefish. Quick verdicts, risk notes, and detailed pair pages so you can stock with confidence.
Ghost shrimp tank mates
Palaemonetes spp.Compatibility hubBuild a peaceful community around Ghost shrimp. Quick verdicts, risk notes, and detailed pair pages so you can stock with confidence.
Goby tank mates
GobiidaeCompatibility hubBuild a peaceful community around Goby. Quick verdicts, risk notes, and detailed pair pages so you can stock with confidence.
Goldfish tank mates
Carassius auratusCompatibility hubBuild a peaceful community around Goldfish. Quick verdicts, risk notes, and detailed pair pages so you can stock with confidence.
Guppy tank mates
Poecilia reticulataCompatibility hubWho can share a tank with Guppy? This hub summarises compatible mixes, common pitfalls, and links to in-depth pair guides.
Hermit crab tank mates
PaguroideaCompatibility hubCompatibility for Hermit crab: temperament, space, and water needs—plus direct links to articles for specific tank mate combinations.
Host anemone tank mates
e.g. Entacmaea quadricolorCompatibility hubWho can share a tank with Host anemone? This hub summarises compatible mixes, common pitfalls, and links to in-depth pair guides.
Jack Dempsey tank mates
Rocio octofasciataCompatibility hubBuild a peaceful community around Jack Dempsey. Quick verdicts, risk notes, and detailed pair pages so you can stock with confidence.
Koi tank mates
Cyprinus rubrofuscusCompatibility hubBuild a peaceful community around Koi. Quick verdicts, risk notes, and detailed pair pages so you can stock with confidence.
Kuhli loach tank mates
Pangio semicinctaCompatibility hubWho can share a tank with Kuhli loach? This hub summarises compatible mixes, common pitfalls, and links to in-depth pair guides.
Large bottom catfish tank mates
e.g. Pimelodus pictusCompatibility hubCompatibility for Large bottom catfish: temperament, space, and water needs—plus direct links to articles for specific tank mate combinations.
Marine angelfish tank mates
PomacanthidaeCompatibility hubWho can share a tank with Marine angelfish? This hub summarises compatible mixes, common pitfalls, and links to in-depth pair guides.
Medium SA cichlid tank mates
e.g. Heros severusCompatibility hubWho can share a tank with Medium SA cichlid? This hub summarises compatible mixes, common pitfalls, and links to in-depth pair guides.
Molly tank mates
Poecilia sphenopsCompatibility hubCompatibility for Molly: temperament, space, and water needs—plus direct links to articles for specific tank mate combinations.
Mystery snail tank mates
Pomacea bridgesiiCompatibility hubCompatibility for Mystery snail: temperament, space, and water needs—plus direct links to articles for specific tank mate combinations.
Neon tetra tank mates
Paracheirodon innesiCompatibility hubPlanning tank mates for Neon tetra? See which species typically work, which to avoid, and open pair-by-pair compatibility write-ups.
Nerite snail tank mates
Neritina spp.Compatibility hubCompatibility for Nerite snail: temperament, space, and water needs—plus direct links to articles for specific tank mate combinations.
Oscar tank mates
Astronotus ocellatusCompatibility hubPlanning tank mates for Oscar? See which species typically work, which to avoid, and open pair-by-pair compatibility write-ups.
Otocinclus tank mates
Otocinclus spp.Compatibility hubPlanning tank mates for Otocinclus? See which species typically work, which to avoid, and open pair-by-pair compatibility write-ups.
Peppermint shrimp tank mates
Lysmata wurdemanniCompatibility hubPlanning tank mates for Peppermint shrimp? See which species typically work, which to avoid, and open pair-by-pair compatibility write-ups.
Platy tank mates
Xiphophorus maculatusCompatibility hubPlaty: tank mate behavior, risky pairings, and links to full articles for each combination you might consider.
Ram cichlid tank mates
Mikrogeophagus ramireziCompatibility hubWho can share a tank with Ram cichlid? This hub summarises compatible mixes, common pitfalls, and links to in-depth pair guides.
Ramshorn snail tank mates
PlanorbidaeCompatibility hubRamshorn snail: tank mate behavior, risky pairings, and links to full articles for each combination you might consider.
Royal gramma tank mates
Gramma loretoCompatibility hubWho can share a tank with Royal gramma? This hub summarises compatible mixes, common pitfalls, and links to in-depth pair guides.
Swordtail tank mates
Xiphophorus helleriiCompatibility hubWho can share a tank with Swordtail? This hub summarises compatible mixes, common pitfalls, and links to in-depth pair guides.
Synodontis catfish tank mates
Synodontis spp.Compatibility hubSynodontis catfish: tank mate behavior, risky pairings, and links to full articles for each combination you might consider.
Tang tank mates
Zebrasoma / AcanthurusCompatibility hubPlanning tank mates for Tang? See which species typically work, which to avoid, and open pair-by-pair compatibility write-ups.
Weather / dojo loach tank mates
Misgurnus anguillicaudatusCompatibility hubPlanning tank mates for Weather / dojo loach? See which species typically work, which to avoid, and open pair-by-pair compatibility write-ups.
White cloud minnow tank mates
Tanichthys albonubesCompatibility hubWhite cloud minnow: tank mate behavior, risky pairings, and links to full articles for each combination you might consider.
Wrasse tank mates
LabridaeCompatibility hubPlanning tank mates for Wrasse? See which species typically work, which to avoid, and open pair-by-pair compatibility write-ups.
Zebra danio tank mates
Danio rerioCompatibility hubWho can share a tank with Zebra danio? This hub summarises compatible mixes, common pitfalls, and links to in-depth pair guides.
Species profiles: Adolfos cory · African rift cichlid · Amano shrimp · Angelfish · Betta · Blenny · Bristlenose pleco · Cardinal tetra · Cardinalfish · Cherry shrimp · Cleaner shrimp · Clownfish · Common pleco · Convict cichlid · Corydoras (typical) · Damselfish · Discus · Firefish · Ghost shrimp · Goby · Goldfish · Guppy · Hermit crab · Host anemone · Jack Dempsey · Koi · Kuhli loach · Large bottom catfish · Marine angelfish · Medium SA cichlid · Molly · Mystery snail · Neon tetra · Nerite snail · Oscar · Otocinclus · Peppermint shrimp · Platy · Ram cichlid · Ramshorn snail · Royal gramma · Swordtail · Synodontis catfish · Tang · Weather / dojo loach · White cloud minnow · Wrasse · Zebra danio
