Dwarf neon rainbowfish care: tank size, temperature and tankmates

A small rainbowfish with blue scales and red fins. Dwarf neon rainbows are peaceful, active schooling fish.

Quick facts

How to keep them

Keep 6 or more in a 20 gallon long or bigger. They color up best with plants and a varied diet.

Like every fish, they need a cycled tank, a heater set inside their range, and a weekly water change of about 25%. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate before you add them. New to this? Start with how to cycle a fish tank.

Tankmates

Good tankmates

Neon tetra · Cardinal tetra · Ember tetra · Rummynose tetra · Black skirt tetra · Serpae tetra · Harlequin rasbora · Zebra danio · Cherry barb · Tiger barb · Platy · Guppy · Endler's livebearer · Molly · Swordtail · Betta (male) · Honey gourami · Dwarf gourami · Pearl gourami · Corydoras (bronze or peppered) · Pygmy corydoras · Kuhli loach · Otocinclus · Bristlenose pleco · Angelfish · Amano shrimp · Nerite snail · Mystery snail · Glowlight tetra · Black neon tetra · Lemon tetra · Congo tetra · Chili rasbora · Lambchop rasbora · Gold barb · Rosy barb · Sparkling gourami · German blue ram · Bolivian ram · Cockatoo dwarf cichlid · Kribensis · Clown loach · Hillstream loach · Siamese algae eater · Ghost shrimp · Ramshorn snail · African dwarf frog

Possible, with care

• White cloud mountain minnow: They only share 72°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
• Cherry shrimp: Dwarf neon rainbowfish eat baby cherry shrimp. Adults usually survive with plenty of moss to hide in.

Avoid

• Fancy goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.
• Common goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.

Not sure about a mix? See the tankmate answers or the stocking ideas by tank size.

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