As we previously learned, Glofish are genetically engineered fluorescent fish. They have been injected with protein from a jellyfish, and this is what allows them to “glow.” They are a patented and trademark fish by Yorktown Technologies. L.P. Glofish comes in various species and colors.
There is Barb, Danio, Tetra, Zebrafish, and many others. You can find them in brilliant shades of blue, green, bright red, pink, purple, and more. They are small, mild-mannered tropical fish that prefer to be in schools of five or more.
What fish are compatible (the best tank mates) with the Glofish? Besides their species, they are schooling fish; some of the top tank mates are the Neon Tetra, Tiger Barb, Plecos, original Danio, and the Dwarf Cichlid. There are others, as well, that are compatible with the Glofish and that will compliment them quite nicely.
I am going to cover the top fish that are compatible with each species of Glofish. I will not be going into a lot of detail about them today. But you can ask about them at the pet store or do a little bit of research online. You can also read through some of my other articles about compatible fish. There is a variety that will be perfect for your Glofish. Just remember, your aquarium needs to be large enough that they all have plenty of room to swim around actively.
Basics Care For Glofish
Here are just a couple of quick things that I wanted to tell you before we get into what fish are compatible.
- Be sure the water temperature is the same or extremely close. You don’t want to put fish together that have a significant temperature difference.
- If you have a Glofish shark, you have to be a lot more cautious when looking for a fish to the house with the Glofish shark.
- You have to be highly cautious with many species and some species that are an absolute NO. Unfortunately, I cannot go into those details today. So please research if you are thinking of a different species than what is listed here.
Because there are many types of Glofish, there are also compatible fish that go best with certain species. If they are schooling or community fish, then you will be safe- no matter what tank mate you choose.
Glofish Barb
These fish like to nip at fins, so you do not want to put them with fish with long, flowing, or fancy fins. With the Glofish barb (tiger barb), it is recommended that you keep them in a school of seven or more and with slightly bigger fish because of their slight aggressiveness. The most compatible fish to include in with Glofish barb:
- Mollies
- Pleco
- Danio
- Dwarf Cichlid
- Platies
Glofish Shark
These fish are very territorial and can be aggressive. Glofish sharks tend to claim a spot in the aquarium as their own. If they feel their space is at risk of being invaded, then they will become aggressive. Because of this, you need to be very cautious of what other species you put in the same tank. Glofish Sharks, for the most part, are bottom-dwelling fish. DO NOT put any other bottom-dwellers in the same aquarium. The glofish shark is the type of fish that will get along better with fish that stay at the top or in the middle of the aquarium.
- Rainbowfish
- Danios
- Barbs
- Rasboras
Glofish Danio
The Danio is an active swimmer that will restlessly dash around the aquarium. They prefer a long aquarium, as it gives them plenty of room to race around. To suppress the Danio’s semi-aggressive nature, keep them in schools of six or more. Small community fish will make the best tank mates for the Danio.
- Guppies
- Rainbowfish
- Platies
- Tetras
- Swordtails
- Plecos
Glofish Tetra
This species of fish prefers to be in schools of five or more fish. If the school isn’t large enough, the tetra will become aggressive and depressed. Black Skirt Tetra prefers to live with others of their species. As long as you have your Glofish tetra in a group of five or more, they will be perfectly content with the following fish:
- Neon Tetra
- Cardinal Tetra
- Plecos
- Danios
- Dwarf cichlids
- Rasboras
Conclusion
Please make sure your schooling fish have enough companionship of their species before you try introducing any other fish to the tank. Groups of five or more, depending on the species, are prime. If your fish prefer to be in schools and try having only 1 or 2, they will become depressed and aggressive. This is not healthy for any species of fish that you have in an aquarium.
You also need to make sure that your tank is plenty big enough to house the decorations and still give your fish plenty of room to swim around as much as they prefer. Fifteen gallons is the minimum that you should keep schooling fish in. I would go with a 25-gallon set-up and go more significant as the need arises.
If you are looking for tank mates/companions for your Glofish, please keep in mind that they do not have to be Glofish. You can have Glofish Tetras and regular Danios together. You can have Glofish Danios and common Tetras in the same tank. You can go with an utterly Glofish tank if you choose, but you do not have to. Whether they are Glofish or the common species, their behaviors and needs are still the same.