Compatibility check
Can Neon tetra and Swordtail live together?
Neon tetra and Swordtail may work, but the rule check found conditions that need careful planning.
caution
Quick answer
Recommended minimum tank for this pair: 30 US gal / 114 L. Keep Neon tetra at 6+ and Swordtail at 3+ where those group sizes are greater than one.
Factor breakdown
| Factor | Result | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Water type | OK | Neon tetra is freshwater; Swordtail is freshwater. Compatibility pages are generated only for matching water types. |
| Temperature | OK | Temperature overlaps at 22-26 C. Neon tetra is listed at 22-26 C; Swordtail is listed at 22-28 C. |
| pH | OK | pH overlaps at 7-7.2. Neon tetra is listed at 5.5-7.2; Swordtail is listed at 7-8.3. |
| Hardness | Caution | Hardness overlaps at 10-10 dGH. Neon tetra is listed at 1-10 dGH; Swordtail is listed at 10-30 dGH. |
| Adult size and predation | Caution | Adult size differs substantially (Neon tetra: 4 cm; Swordtail: 12 cm). Add cover and avoid housing juveniles with adults. |
| Temperament and aggression | OK | Neon tetra (peaceful schooling) and Swordtail (peaceful to boisterous livebearer) do not have an obvious aggression clash in the dataset. |
| Fin nipping risk | OK | The dataset does not flag this pair as a fin-nipper plus long-finned combination. |
| Schooling and group needs | Caution | Plan around full groups, not single display fish. Minimum group sizes: Neon tetra: 6+; Swordtail: 3+. |
| Explicit avoid tags | OK | No explicit avoid-tag conflict was found between these two records. |
| Minimum combined tank size | OK | Use at least 30 US gallons (114 L) for the pair, based on the larger minimum tank plus bioload and activity adjustments where relevant. |
Species profiles
- Neon tetra - Paracheirodon innesi
- Swordtail - Xiphophorus hellerii
Related compatibility checks
Sources and attribution
Source links are verification references for taxonomy and identifiers. Care values are AI-generated from common hobby consensus and need expert review.
- Neon tetra
- Wikidata search - Taxonomy/identifier verification lead only.
- GBIF species search - Taxonomy verification lead only.
- Swordtail
- Wikidata search - Taxonomy/identifier verification lead only.
- GBIF species search - Taxonomy verification lead only.