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Compatibility Report

Can Black Neon Tetra Live With Reticulated Hillstream Loach?

GuideMyTank compatibility analysis for Black Neon Tetra and Reticulated Hillstream Loach.

Planning verdict

caution

Conditional

Only plan this pair if every listed condition can be met, and have a separation plan if stress or aggression appears.

Data confidence
high
Assessment source
Structured data model
Data completeness
100%

Blocking risks

No automatic safety blocker was found.

Conditions and cautions

  • A species needing stable water has only a narrow pH, GH, or KH overlap.
  • Specialist tank style requirements need careful matching.

Supporting factors

  • Temperature ranges overlap well.
  • pH requirements overlap well.
  • Species have similar temperament.
  • Both species have compatible schooling or group behavior.
  • No predation risk detected.
  • Tank size requirements align.
Black Neon Tetra profileReticulated Hillstream Loach profileMethodology and limitations

Why This Pair Received Its Verdict

Black Neon Tetra and Reticulated Hillstream Loach receive a conditional verdict from the current structured assessment. Black Neon Tetra is recorded as peaceful with an aggression level of 1/10; Reticulated Hillstream Loach is recorded as peaceful with an aggression level of 2/10. The recommendation is based on the combined water, space, behavior, grouping, and predation checks below rather than on species names alone.

  • Temperature ranges overlap well.
  • pH requirements overlap well.
  • Species have similar temperament.
  • Both species have compatible schooling or group behavior.

Helpful Links

Use the Compatibility CheckerRead the Compatibility Disclaimer

Water Parameter Overlap

Black Neon Tetra has a recorded temperature range of 72–80°F and pH range of 5.5–7.5. Reticulated Hillstream Loach is recorded at 68–76°F and pH 6.5–7.5. Their shared planning window is 72–76°F for temperature and 6.5–7.5 for pH. A shared aquarium must stay inside the overlap rather than merely touching each species’ outer tolerance.

Aquarium Space and Adult Size

Reticulated Hillstream Loach sets the larger listed base aquarium requirement at 20 gallons; the other listed minimum is 15 gallons. Reticulated Hillstream Loach is the larger adult by the recorded maximum, reaching 3 inches, compared with 1.6 inches. These figures are starting constraints, not a stocking-capacity calculation, because the complete group sizes and bioload still matter.

Behavior and Social Requirements

Black Neon Tetra is a moderate species associated with the mid zone and moderate flow. Reticulated Hillstream Loach is moderate, uses the bottom zone, and has a high flow preference. Black Neon Tetra should be planned as a group of at least 6, while reticulated hillstream loach should be planned as a group of at least 3. The aquarium must support both social structures without forcing either species into insufficient space.

Husbandry Fit

Black Neon Tetra is recorded as a omnivore with easy care, while Reticulated Hillstream Loach is a herbivore with advanced care. Their listed preferred tank styles are planted and stream. Feeding access, cover, open swimming room, filtration, and observation should be planned around the more demanding requirement rather than averaged between the two species.

What Would Change the Decision?

Use these pair-specific boundaries before treating the verdict as an acceptable stocking plan.

  • Do not proceed unless one stable temperature and pH range can be maintained for both Black Neon Tetra and Reticulated Hillstream Loach; acclimation does not correct an incompatible long-term range.
  • Treat size, predation, and fin-damage warnings as stop conditions. Extra plants cannot reliably make an unsafe predator-to-prey or fin-target pairing safe.
  • Use broken sight lines and multiple retreats, then separate the pair if either species shows persistent chasing, hiding, clamped fins, or loss of feeding access.
  • Recalculate space using the full adult group sizes—not one specimen of each species—and reject the plan if either species must be understocked socially to fit.
  • Prepare a cycled backup or separation option before introduction; individual behavior can be less predictable than species-level records.

Aquarium Planning Checklist

  • Keep temperature within 72–76°F.
  • Keep pH within 6.5–7.5.
  • Use at least the larger 20-gallon base requirement before accounting for the complete stocking plan.
  • Black Neon Tetra should be planned as a group of at least 6; reticulated hillstream loach should be planned as a group of at least 3.
  • Provide a separation plan and monitor feeding, stress, chasing, damaged fins, and access to preferred habitat zones.

Final Recommendation

Only plan this pair if every listed condition can be met, and have a separation plan if stress or aggression appears.

Sources and Data Provenance

These references support the underlying species records used by this assessment. They do not necessarily evaluate this exact pair together.

  • dcceew.gov.aucare · medium confidence
  • fishbase.secare · medium confidence
  • thesprucepets.comcare · medium confidence
  • en.wikipedia.orgtaxonomy · medium confidence
  • en.wikipedia.orgtaxonomy · medium confidence
  • en.wikipedia.orgtaxonomy · medium confidence
Read the full methodology and limitations
Report quality
supported
Analysis version
2026.09.1
Species data updated
Jul 2, 2026
Review status
Structured automated assessment

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