Tank mates
Penguin Tetra tank mates
Thayeria boehlkei
The best tank mates for the Penguin Tetra, matched on temperature, pH and temperament, with the reason each species fits.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated
TL;DR, Penguin Tetra tank mates
The Penguin Tetra is an easy-going community fish that settles best around 22 to 28 °C and pH 5.8 to 7.5. Good tank mates are species happy in that same water that won't nip it or get eaten. From the catalogue that comes to 89 fish, 83 plants, 15 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
Showing 15 of 89- Black MollyPoecilia sphenopsTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Black Neon TetraHyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodiTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Black Phantom TetraHyphessobrycon megalopterusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Black Skirt TetraGymnocorymbus ternetziTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Bloodfin TetraAphyocharax anisitsiTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Bronze CorydorasCorydoras aeneusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Buenos Aires TetraHyphessobrycon anisitsiTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Cherry BarbPuntius titteyaTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Endler's LivebearerPoecilia wingeiTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- False Julii CoryCorydoras trilineatusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Florida FlagfishJordanella floridaeTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Glowlight TetraHemigrammus erythrozonusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Gold BarbBarbodes semifasciolatusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- Green SwordtailXiphophorus helleriiTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Temperament ✓
- GuppyPoecilia reticulataTemp ✓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 shrimp
Showing 12 of 15- Black Rose ShrimpNeocaridina davidi 'Black Rose'Temp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Adult shrimp ✓
- Blue Dream ShrimpNeocaridina davidi 'Blue Dream'Temp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Adult shrimp ✓
- Ghost / Glass ShrimpPalaemon paludosusTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Adult shrimp ✓
- Green Jade ShrimpNeocaridina davidi 'Green Jade'Temp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Adult shrimp ✓
- Red Cherry ShrimpNeocaridina davidiTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Adult shrimp ✓
- Snowball ShrimpNeocaridina palmata var.Temp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Adult shrimp ✓
- Yellow NeocaridinaNeocaridina davidi 'Yellow'Temp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Adult shrimp ✓
- Amano ShrimpCaridina multidentataTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Adult shrimp ✓
- Bamboo / Wood ShrimpAtyopsis moluccensisTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Adult shrimp ✓
- Bee Shrimp (wild)Caridina cantonensisTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Adult shrimp ✓
- Tiger ShrimpCaridina mariaeTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Adult shrimp ✓
- Vampire ShrimpAtya gabonensisTemp ✓pH ✓dGH ✓Adult shrimp ✓
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 Penguin Tetra?
Peaceful species that share its water. Good picks from the catalogue include Black Molly, Black Neon Tetra and Black Phantom Tetra, plus compatible plants, shrimp and mosses. The full list with reasons is above.
How many Penguin Tetra should you keep together?
The Penguin Tetra is a schooling fish, so keep a group of at least 8. A bigger group looks better and the fish feel safer, so they colour up and stop hiding.
Are Penguin Tetra shrimp-safe?
Mostly. Adult shrimp are usually fine with the Penguin Tetra, but shrimplets can be eaten, so give a breeding colony plenty of moss and cover.
Do Penguin Tetra eat plants?
No. The Penguin Tetra is plant-safe, so it won't tear up a planted tank. That's why so many plants show up in the list above.