What fish can live with Splash 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 Splash tetra against your own reading before you buy.

What tank mates should you avoid with Splash tetra?

Avoid African Cichlid, Oscar, Pea Puffer based on size, temperament, or predation risk on file.

What size tank do Splash tetra need for a community?

80L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload headroom. Long-term, a 98L+ 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.

Splash tetra tank mates

A fascinating tetra that jumps onto overhanging leaves to deposit eggs above water. Needs a species-specific setup to observe this natural behaviour.

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 Splash 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.

Chili Rasbora Pair check
The Splash tetra profile lists Chili Rasbora as a safe tank mate. Chili Rasbora schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Chili Rasbora grows to about 2cm, which is borderline mouth-size for an adult 5cm Splash tetra.
Corydoras Catfish Pair check
The Splash 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 Splash tetra stays in the top, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
Dwarf pencilfish Pair check
The Splash tetra profile lists Dwarf pencilfish as a recommended pairing. Dwarf pencilfish schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Ember Tetra Pair check
The Splash tetra profile lists Ember Tetra as both safe and a recommended pairing. Ember Tetra schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Ember Tetra grows to about 2cm, which is borderline mouth-size for an adult 5cm Splash tetra.
Golden / Beckford's pencilfish Pair check
The Splash tetra profile lists Golden / Beckford's pencilfish as a recommended pairing. Golden / Beckford's pencilfish schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Panda Corydoras Pair check
The Splash tetra profile lists Panda Corydoras as a safe tank mate. Panda Corydoras schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Panda Corydoras swims in the bottom zone while Splash tetra stays in the top, so the two will not crowd the same water column.

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.

German Blue Ram Open pair check
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Betta Open pair check
Betta is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Splash tetra. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Neon Tetra Open pair check
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Jack Dempsey Open pair check
Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Splash tetra at 5cm is inside that gape range. Jack Dempsey is rated aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Splash tetra. Run the pair checker before stocking.

Fish to avoid with Splash tetra

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

African Cichlid See why (pair)
African Cichlid reaches 15cm and is flagged predatory. Splash tetra at 5cm is prey-sized for it. African Cichlid needs at least 200L, far above the 80L minimum for Splash tetra. The tank that houses one stresses the other. African Cichlid is rated aggressive and Splash tetra is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Oscar See why (pair)
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Splash tetra at 5cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 80L minimum for Splash tetra. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Oscar is rated aggressive and Splash tetra is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Pea Puffer See why (pair)
Pea Puffer conflicts with Splash 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 Splash 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.

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 80L minimum tank for Splash tetra needs a filter rated for at least 320L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 23–28°C.

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