What fish can live with Serpae 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 Serpae Tetra against your own reading before you buy.

What tank mates should you avoid with Serpae Tetra?

Avoid Betta, Guppy, Angelfish, Discus, Neon Tetra based on size, temperament, or predation risk on file.

What size tank do Serpae Tetra need for a community?

100L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload headroom. Long-term, a 122L+ 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.

Serpae Tetra tank mates

A notorious fin-nipper that needs a large group to redirect aggression inward. A school of twelve in the right tank is beautiful; fewer creates a fin-shredding problem.

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 Serpae 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.

Bristlenose Pleco Pair check
The Serpae Tetra profile lists Bristlenose Pleco as both safe and a recommended pairing. Bristlenose Pleco grows bigger than Serpae Tetra (15cm vs 4cm). Stock the Serpae Tetra group large enough to outnumber the Bristlenose Pleco, or the smaller fish ends up bullied or off food. Bristlenose Pleco swims in the bottom zone while Serpae Tetra stays in the middle, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
Corydoras Catfish Pair check
The Serpae 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 Serpae Tetra stays in the middle, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
Dwarf Gourami Pair check
The Serpae Tetra profile lists Dwarf Gourami as both safe and a recommended pairing. Dwarf Gourami grows bigger than Serpae Tetra (8cm vs 4cm). Stock the Serpae Tetra group large enough to outnumber the Dwarf Gourami, or the smaller fish ends up bullied or off food.

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 Serpae Tetra

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

Betta See why (pair)
Betta conflicts with Serpae Tetra on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
Guppy See why (pair)
Guppy conflicts with Serpae Tetra on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
Angelfish See why (pair)
Angelfish reaches 20cm and is flagged predatory. Serpae Tetra at 4cm is prey-sized for it.
Discus See why (pair)
Discus conflicts with Serpae Tetra on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
Neon Tetra See why (pair)
Neon Tetra conflicts with Serpae 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 Serpae Tetra: 100L — group minimum 8 (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: 100L hub.

Easier alternatives to consider

Conservative beginner-peaceful picks from the library — not replacements for reading, but a shorter on-ramp than this species for a first tank.

Plan before you buy

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

Open compatibility checker Tank builder

Filtration & heating

A 100L minimum tank for Serpae Tetra needs a filter rated for at least 400L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 22–28°C.

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