Species › Bettas and gouramis

Paradise fish tank mates and minimum tank size

Macropodus opercularis

Paradise fish grow to 8 cm (3.1 in). Keep one per tank. They need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F) and pH 6.0–8.0.

Minimum tank

72 L (19 US gal), at least 80 cm (31 in) long

Adult size

8 cm (3.1 in)

Temperature

16–22 °C (61–72 °F)

pH

pH 6.0–8.0

Group

one per tank

Paradise fish minimum tank size

Paradise fish need at least 72 L (19 US gal), in a tank at least 80 cm (31 in) long.

That is the largest minimum among the sources below. The planner also checks the tank length against the adult size of 8 cm (3.1 in): a tank shorter than 4 times that is cramped (32 cm (13 in)).

Paradise fish tank mates

Each of the other 52 species in this reference, judged against paradise fish by the same rules as the compatibility checker. A guide, not a guarantee.

Compatible (14)

• Black skirt tetra
• Glass catfish
• Goldfish
• Guppy
• Molly
• Mystery snail
• Neon tetra
• Otocinclus
• Platy
• Rosy barb
• Tiger barb
• White cloud mountain minnow
• Yoyo loach
• Zebra danio

With care (10)

• Celestial pearl danioCelestial pearl danios (2.1 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger paradise fish (8 cm).
• Cherry shrimpParadise fish (8 cm) usually leave adult cherry shrimp (4 cm) alone but eat the young.
• Harlequin rasboraThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by harlequin rasboras and paradise fish. That leaves no margin.
• Nerite snailThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by nerite snails and paradise fish. That leaves no margin.
• Panda corydorasThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by panda corydoras and paradise fish. That leaves no margin.
• Peppered corydorasThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by peppered corydoras and paradise fish. That leaves no margin.
• Pygmy corydorasThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by pygmy corydoras and paradise fish. That leaves no margin.
• Red tail sharkThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by red tail sharks and paradise fish. That leaves no margin.
• Serpae tetraThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by serpae tetras and paradise fish. That leaves no margin.
• SwordtailThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by swordtails and paradise fish. That leaves no margin.

Not compatible (28)

• AngelfishAngelfish need 25.6–28.9 °C (78–84 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• BettaBettas need 24.4–29.4 °C (76–85 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both. Paradise fish fight bettas, gouramis and paradise fish, and bettas are one of them. Bettas fight bettas, gouramis and paradise fish, and paradise fish are one of them. Bettas are usually best kept alone. Some accept calm tank mates such as paradise fish, many do not.
• Black neon tetraBlack neon tetras need 23–27 °C (73–81 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Boeseman's rainbowfishBoeseman's rainbowfish need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Bristlenose plecoBristlenose plecos need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Bronze corydorasBronze corydoras need 25–27 °C (77–81 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Cardinal tetraCardinal tetras need 23–27 °C (73–81 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by paradise fish and cardinal tetras. That leaves no margin.
• Cherry barbCherry barbs need 23–27 °C (73–81 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Chili rasboraChili rasboras need 25–28 °C (77–82 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Clown loachClown loaches need 25–30 °C (77–86 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Cockatoo dwarf cichlidCockatoo dwarf cichlids need 24–25 °C (75–77 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by paradise fish and cockatoo dwarf cichlids. That leaves no margin.
• Common plecoCommon plecos need 23.3–26.7 °C (74–80 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Congo tetraCongo tetras need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Convict cichlidConvict cichlids need 24–28 °C (75–82 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both. Convict cichlids are aggressive and best kept in a tank of their own; they attack fish several times their size, so paradise fish would be harassed.
• DiscusDiscus need 26–30 °C (79–86 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Dwarf gouramiDwarf gouramis need 25–27 °C (77–81 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both. Paradise fish fight bettas, gouramis and paradise fish, and dwarf gouramis are one of them. Dwarf gouramis fight bettas, gouramis and paradise fish, and paradise fish are one of them.
• Ember tetraEmber tetras need 24–28 °C (75–82 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both. Ember tetras (2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger paradise fish (8 cm).
• Endler's livebearerEndler's livebearers need 24–30 °C (75–86 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both. Endler's livebearers (2.5 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger paradise fish (8 cm).
• German blue ramGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by paradise fish and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• Glowlight tetraGlowlight tetras need 24–28 °C (75–82 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Honey gouramiParadise fish fight bettas, gouramis and paradise fish, and honey gouramis are one of them. The only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by honey gouramis and paradise fish. That leaves no margin.
• KribensisKribensis need 24–25 °C (75–77 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Kuhli loachKuhli loaches need 24–26 °C (75–79 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Lemon tetraLemon tetras need 23–28 °C (73–82 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• OscarOscars grow to 46 cm and eat animals they can swallow; paradise fish grow to 8 cm. The only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by oscars and paradise fish. That leaves no margin.
• Pearl gouramiPearl gouramis need 24–28 °C (75–82 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both. Paradise fish fight bettas, gouramis and paradise fish, and pearl gouramis are one of them.
• Rummy-nose tetraRummy-nose tetras need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by paradise fish and rummy-nose tetras. That leaves no margin.
• Siamese algae eaterSiamese algae eaters need 24–26 °C (75–79 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.

Sources

Where sources differ, the value shown is computed as the most cautious one.

Behaviour notes are from Seriously Fish, read 2026-10-26.

Check against another species Plan a tank