Red Eye Tetras And Guppies: Compatible Tank Mates?

Red eye tetras and guppies can live together, but there are some things to keep in mind. Firstly, red eye tetras are peaceful fish that thrive in community tanks with other peaceful, similarly-sized fish. They are not typically aggressive, but they can become stressed and nip at the fins of slower fish if they are not kept in a large enough tank or without enough company of their own kind. It is recommended to have at least six red eye tetras in a group to prevent this behaviour. Guppies are also peaceful and friendly fish, and they can happily coexist with red eye tetras in a community tank, as long as there is enough space for both species. A 10-gallon tank should not house more than five fish in total. Additionally, guppies and red eye tetras have similar habitat preferences, with both favouring slightly acidic to neutral water temperatures of around 75-80°F.

Red eye tetras and guppies: ideal tank size and conditions

Red eye tetras and guppies can live together in a community tank. However, there are some considerations to be made regarding tank size and conditions to ensure both species are comfortable and healthy.

Tank Size

Red eye tetras are a larger species of tetra and are schooling fish, meaning they need to be kept in groups of at least six individuals. A larger tank is necessary to keep this species happy and stress-free. The minimum tank size for a school of six red eye tetras is 15-20 gallons. If you are setting up a community tank with other species, a 20-gallon tank should be the bare minimum. For a 30-gallon tank, you can have a school of around eight red eye tetras.

Guppies require at least two gallons of space per individual fish. For example, if you have a 10-gallon tank, you should keep no more than five guppies.

Tank Conditions

Red eye tetras and guppies have similar preferences when it comes to tank conditions. Both species like temperatures between 72-82 °F and a neutral pH of around 7.0. Red eye tetras can tolerate a wider range of pH levels, from 5.5 to 8.5, but it is best to keep the water slightly acidic if breeding. Guppies can also adapt to a range of pH levels from 5.5 to 8.5, but neutral is ideal.

Both species prefer a dimly lit aquarium that mimics their natural habitat of densely forested regions that let in little light. Use a dark substrate and plant cover along the sides and back of the aquarium. Red eye tetras and guppies also appreciate live plants, driftwood, and rocks in their tank to recreate their natural habitat and provide hiding spaces.

Red eye tetras and guppies have similar dietary requirements and are not fussy eaters. They will feed on high-quality flakes or pellets and should be given frozen or live food occasionally to ensure they are happy and healthy.

It is important to note that red eye tetras are active and energetic and may nip at the fins of slower-moving fish with longer fins, such as guppies. Therefore, it is recommended to keep red eye tetras in a group of at least five or more to reduce fin-nipping behaviour.

Can red eye tetras and guppies breed?

Red eye tetras and guppies can live together in a community tank. They are both peaceful and friendly fish that prefer to live with other fish rather than on their own. However, it is important to note that red eye tetras can become aggressive if they are not kept in a large enough tank or if they do not have enough of their own kind to school with. Therefore, it is recommended to keep red eye tetras in a group of at least six or more.

Regarding breeding, red eye tetras usually breed easily in captivity and sometimes do so without any preparation. However, they will eat their eggs and fry, so successful breeding requires intervention. It is best to breed them in larger groups of up to 12 individuals, with equal numbers of males and females. The breeding tank should have slightly acidic water, very soft water, and floating plants or spawning mops to catch the eggs. Guppies, on the other hand, are known to consume their fry, and tetras may pose a similar problem.

In conclusion, while red eye tetras and guppies can live together peacefully, breeding them in the same tank may be challenging due to their respective tendencies to eat their fry. To successfully breed either species, it is recommended to set up a separate breeding tank with optimal conditions and take steps to protect the eggs and fry from the adult fish.

Are red eye tetras aggressive towards guppies?

Red eye tetras are not aggressive fish by nature. They are known for their peaceful and friendly demeanour, making them a popular choice for community aquariums. However, when it comes to their compatibility with guppies, there have been mixed reports. While some people have successfully kept red eye tetras and guppies together without issues, others have experienced instances of aggression and nipping.

Red eye tetras are energetic and active, and they prefer to be in schools of their own kind, with a minimum of six individuals. If they are kept in smaller groups or feel cramped in a tank that is too small, they may exhibit nipping behaviour, particularly towards slower-moving fish with longer fins, such as guppies. It is important to provide them with enough space to swim and hide, as well as enough company of their own kind, to keep them relaxed and reduce fin nipping.

In one case, a pair of red eye tetras ganged up on and killed five guppies. The owner observed that the tetras liked to chase and nip at the fins of anything smaller than them, but they didn't mess with larger fish like angelfish. This behaviour could be a defence mechanism when they are unable to school properly, or it could be due to stress from being kept in a small group. Another owner reported that their red eye tetras killed all their ghost shrimps.

On the other hand, some owners have had no issues with red eye tetras and guppies cohabiting. One person stated that they had never had a red eye tetra be aggressive towards anybody, while another successfully kept three lamp eye tetras, guppies, and platies together.

To minimise the risk of aggression, it is recommended to keep red eye tetras in a group of at least six and provide them with a spacious tank that accommodates their schooling behaviour and active swimming needs. A 20-gallon tank is recommended for a school of six red eye tetras, with the tank size increasing for larger schools. Additionally, maintaining optimal water conditions, such as temperature and pH levels, is crucial for the well-being of both red eye tetras and guppies.

In summary, while red eye tetras are generally peaceful fish, they may display aggression towards guppies if they feel threatened or stressed due to inadequate tank size or school size. Providing them with a suitable environment and ensuring they have enough company of their own kind can help reduce the likelihood of aggressive behaviour.

What should you feed red eye tetras and guppies?

Guppies and red-eye tetras have very similar dietary requirements. In the wild, guppies will eat mosquito larvae and algae, while red-eye tetras eat worms, insects, crustaceans, and plant matter.

In captivity, both species can be fed high-quality flakes or pellets, with the occasional addition of frozen or live food. Guppies should be fed high-quality pellets or flakes that contain essential nutrients. This should be supplemented with live food like shrimp or bloodworms, and vegetables such as peas and lettuce.

Red-eye tetras can be fed high-quality flake food, pellet food, freeze-dried and frozen food, live food, spirulina-based food, micro worms, mosquito larvae, bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Their diet can also include dried flake foods and granules with some vegetable matter such as spinach leaves and algae-based food.

Both species are voracious eaters and can eat multiple times a day. However, it is important to only feed them what they can consume in three minutes to avoid overfeeding. Red-eye tetras should be fed twice a day, while the fry of both species need to be fed three times a day with a varied diet.

What other fish can live with red eye tetras and guppies?

Red-eye tetras are peaceful fish that can live with many other species in a community tank. They are active swimmers that occupy the middle level of the tank, so they can be kept with bottom-dwellers and top-dwellers. However, they are known to occasionally nip the fins of slow-moving, long-finned fish, so it's best to avoid keeping them with such species.

Guppies are also peaceful and friendly fish that can live with many other species. They are native to the waters of South America but can be found all over the world. They are most commonly found in small streams and pools but can also be found in fast-flowing waters.

So, what other fish can live with red-eye tetras and guppies? Here are some options:

• Black Diamond Neon Tetra
• Western Rainbow Fish
• Rasboras
• Danios
• Mollies
• Platies
• Corydoras
• Gouramis
• Serpae tetra
• Albino Buenos Aires Tetra
• Cherry barbs
• Rainbowfish
• Barbs
• Larger rasboras
• Neon tetra
• Tiger Barb

It's important to note that red-eye tetras should be kept in a group of at least 5 or 6 to reduce the chances of aggression. Similarly, guppies should have enough space, with at least 2 gallons of water per fish.

Frequently asked questions