Silver Tip Tetra tank mates
An active copper-coloured schooler that nips long fins. Stock eight, skip the bettas and guppies, get a confident school in a planted 60L.
Common mistakeAdding silver tips to a tank with a male betta or fancy long fins is the fortnight shred story. They are peaceful in a proper school and still nip trailing fins when bored or under-stocked. Keep them with short-finned neighbours, or skip the betta plan entirely.
Each name below opens a pair check with Silver Tip 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 Silver Tip 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 Silver Tip Tetra stays in the middle, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
The Silver Tip 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 Silver Tip Tetra at 4cm is inside that gape range. Angelfish is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Silver Tip 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.
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 Silver Tip Tetra
Predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile. Treat these as poor default mixes.
Betta conflicts with Silver Tip 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 Silver Tip Tetra: 60L. 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: 60L hub.
Plan before you buy
Start a pair check with Silver Tip Tetra, or open a starter plan with the top safer companions in the builder.
Tank hubs: 60L
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 →
Silver Tip Tetra is on this list. Matters more with long-finned tank mates.
- Schooling & group fish →
Plan the group of 8+ before choosing tank mates.
- Peaceful community fish →
Other peaceful species to shortlist beside Silver Tip Tetra.
Filtration & heating
A 60L minimum tank for Silver Tip Tetra needs a filter rated for at least 240L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 22–28°C.
Similar fish (same category)
- Beckford Pencilfish · min 60L
- Black Neon Tetra · min 60L
- Bloodfin tetra · min 60L
- Cardinal Tetra · min 60L
- Glowlight Tetra · min 60L
- Green neon tetra · min 60L
- Lemon Tetra · min 60L
- X-ray tetra · min 60L
Related (care + temperament)
Featured compatibility checks
Curated pair pages for Silver Tip Tetra. Each opens a full verdict — not just a list label.
Silver Tip Tetra tank mates — quick answers
- What fish can live with Silver Tip Tetra?
- Usually safer companions on this hub include Corydoras Catfish, Harlequin Rasbora. Open each pair check before you buy — the list is a shortlist, not a guarantee.
- What tank mates should you avoid with Silver Tip Tetra?
- Avoid Betta based on size, temperament, or predation risk on this profile.
- What size tank do Silver Tip Tetra need for a community?
- 60L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload. A 80L+ tank is the more comfortable long-term footprint. Length and depth matter as much as raw litres for active or territorial fish.