Tank mates
Paradise Fish tank mates
Macropodus opercularis
The best tank mates for the Paradise Fish, matched on temperature, pH and temperament, with the reason each species fits.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated
TL;DR, Paradise Fish tank mates
The Paradise Fish is a bolder fish that needs its tank mates chosen with care that settles best around 16 to 26 °C and pH 6 to 8. Good tank mates are species happy in that same water that won't nip it or get eaten. From the catalogue that comes to 8 fish, 83 plants, 0 shrimp and 13 mosses, each listed below with why it works. Match those numbers, keep group sizes sensible, and you've got a peaceful tank.
Compatible fish
8 matches- Buenos Aires TetraHyphessobrycon anisitsiTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Florida FlagfishJordanella floridaeTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Silver Tip TetraHasemania nanaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Golden Wonder KillifishAplocheilus lineatusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Kissing GouramiHelostoma temminckiiTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Serpae TetraHyphessobrycon equesTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Tiger BarbPuntigrus tetrazonaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Dwarf PufferCarinotetraodon travancoricusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
Compatible plants
Showing 12 of 83- Amazon FrogbitLimnobium laevigatumTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Anacharis (Elodea)Egeria densaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Anubias BarteriAnubias barteri var. barteriTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Anubias Barteri 'Petite'Anubias barteri var. nana 'Petite'Temp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Anubias Barteri NanaAnubias barteri var. nanaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Anubias CoffeefoliaAnubias barteri 'Coffeefolia'Temp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Aponogeton CrispusAponogeton crispusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Asian AmbuliaLimnophila sessilifloraTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Bacopa CarolinianaBacopa carolinianaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Bacopa MonnieriBacopa monnieriTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Brazilian PennywortHydrocotyle leucocephalaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
- Cryptocoryne WalkeriCryptocoryne walkeriTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Plant-safe ✓
Compatible mosses
Showing 8 of 13- Java MossTaxiphyllum barbieriTemp ✓pH ✓
- Christmas MossVesicularia montagneiTemp ✓pH ✓
- Round PelliaMonosolenium tenerumTemp ✓pH ✓
- Singapore MossVesicularia dubyanaTemp ✓pH ✓
- Spiky MossTaxiphyllum sp. 'Spiky'Temp ✓pH ✓
- Stringy MossLeptodictyum ripariumTemp ✓pH ✓
- Süßwassertang / Mini PelliaLomariopsis lineataTemp ✓pH ✓
- Flame MossTaxiphyllum 'Flame'Temp ✓pH ✓
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
What can live with Paradise Fish?
Peaceful species that share its water. Good picks from the catalogue include Buenos Aires Tetra, Florida Flagfish and Silver Tip Tetra, plus compatible plants, shrimp and mosses. The full list with reasons is above.
How many Paradise Fish should you keep together?
You can keep the Paradise Fish on its own or in a small group. Around 1 is a sensible starting point where the species does well together.
Are Paradise Fish shrimp-safe?
Not really. The Paradise Fish will treat dwarf shrimp as food, so keep them apart if you want the shrimp to breed.
Do Paradise Fish eat plants?
No. The Paradise Fish is plant-safe, so it won't tear up a planted tank. That's why so many plants show up in the list above.