5 Great Tank Mates for Glofish Tetras (Compatibility Guide 2023)

Glofish Tetras are tropical freshwater fish with stunning colors, ranging from cosmic blue, Starfire red, sunburst orange, moonrise pink, electric green, and galactic purple. This makes them great for office, home, or classroom.

Tetras love to swim in schools of five, and they have an average lifespan of 3 to 5 years. They are mostly peaceful and require a large swimming area; hence they do better in 50-gallon tanks.

Glofish Tetras live in harmony with other peaceful species. The following are some of the best tank mates for Glofish Tetra.

The 5 Great Tank Mates for Glofish Tetras

​​1. Sunset Thicklip Gourami (Trichogaster labiosa)

Sunset Thicklip Gourami is a great tank mate to keep in your community tank with your Glofish. These fish make an attractive addition to your aquarium since they come in plenty of color variations, ranging from brown, orange, gold, and red. The females have a wider body than the males, though they are less colorful. They are hardy fish and easy to take care of. These fish are omnivorous, meaning they can eat anything that comes their way. They spend most of their time in the middle or at the top of the tank.

Sunset Thicklip Gouramis originate from Southern Asia and prefer slow-moving waters. They mostly love warm waters, but they easily adapt and tolerate various fluctuations. This fish thrives in water temperatures between 68–78 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0. They need a lot of floating plants on the surface.

Many people love these fish since they live for a considerable period. They have an average lifespan of four to seven years with better care. The minimum tank size for Sunset Thicklip Gourami fish is 15-gallon, but you can keep them in a larger tank since they are active. They grow up to 4 inches in length.

These fish are naturally peaceful and excellent for any community tank. However, they are a little bit timid, especially if you house them with those that pester them. They take time to adapt to a new aquarium and do better when in a group. Sometimes they can show hierarchal behavior, but they are not aggressive towards each other.

2. Redeye Tetra (Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae)

Redeye Tetra is one of the delightful-looking fish that you can add to your Glofish aquarium. Their gorgeous scales with numerous colors stand out in any tank. They create an eye-catching display when you keep them in a group of six or more.

These fish are easy to care for—ideal for beginners. They are omnivorous and eat all aquarium food, including flakes and frozen food, but need vitamin-enriched foods for overall health. Redeye Tetras spend most of their time in the middle of the tank and tend to disturb to-dwelling fish. They are native to Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Paraguay. They tolerate a wide range of water conditions, from soft acidic to hard alkaline water.

These fish thrive in water temperatures between 73 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of 5.5 to 8.5. Since they come from dense forests, ensure you keep their aquarium dimly lit. Besides, make sure you add a lot of plants and dark substrate to the tank.

The minimum tank size for these fish is a 20-gallon tank. They don’t like fast-moving waters; hence tilt the filters to ensure you do not disturb them. These fish have a lifespan of about five years and can grow up to three inches.

These fish are peaceful by nature and are schooling species—they like to swim in a school of six or more individuals. Ensure you don’t keep them with aggressive or more boisterous tankmates.

3. Silver Mollies (Poecilia sphenops)

Silver Mollies are popular among aquarists and come in a wide variety of species to select from. They have attractive colors and low-maintenance care needs, making them a perfect choice for beginners. However, you have strong caring skills to keep them healthy and happy.

They are omnivorous and can consume almost everything, including algae, plants, small invertebrates, and flake foods. Small mollies perfectly fit in a 10-gallon tank, while larger varieties require bigger tanks of at least 30 gallons. They spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank and like sandy substrates. They have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years in a tank with great care and conditions. The fish matures fast as they reach sexual maturity at about 3–4 months of age.

Mollies originate from southern North America, Mexico. They do better in both freshwater and saltwater environments but mostly prefer water temperatures between 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of 6.5 and 8. Therefore, you need to adjust the water parameters accordingly.

These fish grow from 4 inches up to 5 inches. To ensure you give them peace of mind, you can add a lot of plants to their aquarium to provide hiding places. You can also add gravel or sand to the tank’s bottom.

These fishes are naturally peaceful and mingle well with others. However, they portray aggression signs when kept with aggressive tank mates or when crowded. Ensure you keep them in a larger tank to prevent any aggression.

4. Harlequin Rasboras (Trigonostigma heteromorpha)

Harlequin Rasboras are small freshwater fish, and they are an excellent choice to add to your community tank. They come in various colors, such as shiny reddish, orange-bronze, and pinkish. These fish will tolerate various fluctuations in water temperatures, making them ideal for beginners.

The minimum tank size you need to keep Harlequin Rasbora is 10 gallons of water, but you can go for a bigger tank if you want to keep more fish. These species stay mainly in the middle of the tank and do well in plant or gravel substrates. They originate from Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, and are hardy species and quickly adapt to aquarium conditions.

For them to thrive, the water conditions must be near their natural habitats. They do better in water temperatures between 70 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit and a pH of 5 to 7. Therefore, ensure you have a premium heater to maintain the said temperatures.

These fishes have an average lifespan of 5 to 8 years, depending on water conditions, parents’ genetics, and tank mates. A mature Harlequin Rasboras has a length of at least 2 inches, making them suitable for small tanks.

They are peaceful creatures, naturally schooling species, and do well in a group of 8–10 specimens. Even though they are small, they need more space to swim and play as they are very active and vibrant.

These species are also shy, and they like hiding. Ensure your tank has a lot of plants and decors to provide hiding places for these fish.

5. Guppies (Poecilia reticulate)

Guppies are some of the most awe-aspiring fish in aquarium life. They have stunning and appealing colors and breed at a fast rate, hence most preferred by many freshwater breeders. They are easy to keep and maintain, and compatible with various fish species since they are sociable.

They have a lifespan of about 2–5 years, which is mainly attributed to the care level you give them. Guppies usually die due to stress and other diseases. They mature slowly and breed more regularly. These fish spend most of their time swimming at the top of the tank, trying to get more oxygen.

It is, therefore, advisable to have an oxygenating pump in your aquarium to ensure there is enough oxygen in the water for your guppies. Keeping the water flowing is also another excellent option for providing oxygen. Guppies originate from South American warm waters, and they cope well with a wide temperature range. They do better in warmer conditions; hence, you should try to replicate with their natural habitat, which is relatively easy to do.

For your Guppy fish to mature fast, ensure you keep the water temperatures between 64 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of 7.5 to 8.0. Besides, make sure you closely check the water conditions frequently to prevent significant fluctuations.

You can keep three Guppies in a 5-gallon tank, though the most recommended tank size is 10-gallon or larger to give them more room to swim and play. They are small fish with an average length of 2 inches for adults. Females can grow big as two and a half inches long. But males rarely get even to 2 inches. This small size makes guppies a great choice for people with small aquariums. However, they are more comfortable when you keep them in larger tanks.

Guppies are versatile tropical fish and are naturally peaceful, making them excellent companions for community aquariums. Their aggressiveness is not known by many, but they can become territorial and aggressive.

Benefits Of Having Tank Mates for Glofish In Your Aquarium

There are several benefits of adding tank mates for your Glofish, as discussed below:

Companionship

Glofish are friendly and schooling species. They like to move in a group of five or more. Therefore, adding peaceful tank mates in your aquarium will help to provide companionship for your Glofish.

Reduce Stress

Glofish are very active, and they enjoy playing. Adding tank mates to your aquarium will offer playing partners. This will help to reduce anxiety and stress in the tank. Ensure you don’t overcrowd them as this may cause stress. In addition, ensure you only add peaceful companions to prevent aggression that can lead to stress.

Improved Tank Quality

When you add tank mates for your Glofish, you will improve your aquarium quality. It will look more beautiful with different fish species, which is worth watching the fish swim. This will also boost the value of your fish tank.

Wrapping Up

Choosing the best tank mates for your Glofish is not easy as many think. They are peaceful in nature and friendly. They live in harmony with all other peaceful species. However, Glofish can turn aggressive when you keep them in uncomfortable conditions.

Featured Image: Grigorev Mikhail, Shutterstock