Rosy Tetra tank mates
A pink mid-size schooler for soft-water planted tanks. Less nippy than silver tips, still not safe with bettas. Six or more for colour.
Common mistakeBuying only three rosy tetras is how keepers invent a weak, pale handful that schools poorly and gets harassed. Six is the real start. Add the full group at once in planted cover — three fish never look like the species people bought from the photo.
Each name below opens a pair check with Rosy Tetra. That check is the decision, not the list itself.
Usually safer companions
Conservative shortlist from this profile. Open a pair page before you buy.
The Rosy Tetra profile lists Cardinal Tetra as both safe and a recommended pairing. Cardinal Tetra schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
The Rosy 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.
Risky or situational
May work with more water, a mature system, or a species-only setup. Read the pair page before you experiment.
Angelfish reaches 20cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Rosy Tetra at 4cm is inside that gape range. Angelfish is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Rosy Tetra. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Betta is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Rosy Tetra. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Fish to avoid with Rosy Tetra
Predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile. Treat these as poor default mixes.
None flagged as a hard avoid on this profile.
Tank size and groups
- Published minimum for Rosy Tetra: 80L. 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: 80L hub.
Plan before you buy
Start a pair check with Rosy Tetra, or open a starter plan with the top safer companions in the builder.
Tank hubs: 80L
Related reading
Guides that list other fish with the same trait, so you can plan around the group rather than one row.
- Fin-nipping fish →
Rosy Tetra is on this list. Matters more with long-finned tank mates.
- Schooling & group fish →
Plan the group of 6+ before choosing tank mates.
- Peaceful community fish →
Other peaceful species to shortlist beside Rosy Tetra.
Filtration & heating
A 80L minimum tank for Rosy Tetra needs a filter rated for at least 320L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 23–28°C.
Similar fish (same category)
- Black phantom tetra · min 80L
- Columbian Tetra · min 80L
- Penguin tetra · min 80L
- Rummy Nose Tetra · min 80L
- Splash tetra · min 80L
- Beckford Pencilfish · min 60L
- Black Neon Tetra · min 60L
- Bloodfin tetra · min 60L
Related (care + temperament)
Featured compatibility checks
Curated pair pages for Rosy Tetra. Each opens a full verdict — not just a list label.
Rosy Tetra tank mates — quick answers
- What fish can live with Rosy Tetra?
- Usually safer companions on this hub include Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora. Open each pair check before you buy — the list is a shortlist, not a guarantee.
- What tank mates should you avoid with Rosy Tetra?
- Avoid any species that competes for the same territory, eats juveniles of this species' size class, or requires very different water parameters.
- What size tank do Rosy Tetra need for a community?
- 80L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload. A 100L+ tank is the more comfortable long-term footprint. Length and depth matter as much as raw litres for active or territorial fish.