Aquariumanabantoid · freshwater
Paradise Fish: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Paradise Fish (Macropodus opercularis) grows to about 3.8 in (8 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 31 inches long and about 19 gallons. It doesn't need a group of its own kind, at 50–72°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Needs special care. Sold for heated tropical community tanks but prefers cool unheated water and males fight and harass similarly shaped fish.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 3.8 in (8 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 31 inches long and about 19 gallons
- Temperature
- 50–72°F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 5–20 dGH
- Group size
- 1 (solitary or pair)
- With other fish
- semi-aggressive
- With its own kind
- aggressive
- Swims
- top of the tank
- Diet
- carnivore
- Care level
- intermediate
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: eats shrimp
Paradise Fish tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- GuppyAdult ~2.8 in · 63–82°F
- Bronze CoryAdult ~3.5 in · 70–81°F
- Kuhli LoachAdult ~4.7 in · 70–79°F
- Bristlenose PlecoAdult ~5.9 in · 70–79°F
- Tiger BarbNeeds careAdult ~2.8 in · 68–79°F
- MollyNeeds careAdult ~3.8 in · 70–82°F
- SwordtailNeeds careAdult ~6.6 in · 61–82°F
- Gold BarbAdult ~3.5 in · 61–75°F
- Buenos Aires TetraNeeds careAdult ~2.8 in · 61–82°F
- Rosy BarbAdult ~4.7 in · 61–75°F
Use caution
- Neon TetraParadise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Neon Tetra.
- Harlequin RasboraParadise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Harlequin Rasbora.
- Ember TetraParadise Fish grows 4× longer than Ember Tetra and may treat it as food.
- Chili RasboraParadise Fish grows 4× longer than Chili Rasbora and may treat it as food.
- Celestial Pearl DanioParadise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Celestial Pearl Danio.
- Cherry BarbParadise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Cherry Barb.
- Lemon TetraParadise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra.
- PlatyParadise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Platy.
Avoid
- Cardinal TetraParadise Fish (50–72°F) and Cardinal Tetra (73–84°F) need different temperatures.
- Rummy-nose TetraParadise Fish (50–72°F) and Rummy-nose Tetra (73–79°F) need different temperatures.
- Black Neon TetraParadise Fish (50–72°F) and Black Neon Tetra (73–82°F) need different temperatures.
- Glowlight TetraParadise Fish (50–72°F) and Glowlight Tetra (75–82°F) need different temperatures.
- Endler's LivebearerNeeds careParadise Fish (50–72°F) and Endler's Livebearer (75–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Pearl GouramiParadise Fish (50–72°F) and Pearl Gourami (75–86°F) need different temperatures.
- German Blue RamNeeds careParadise Fish (50–72°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Bolivian RamParadise Fish (50–72°F) and Bolivian Ram (75–82°F) need different temperatures.
All 105 species we checked against the Paradise Fish
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Fancy Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Molly | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rainbow Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Red-Tail Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Yoyo Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Caution | Paradise Fish and Betta only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Bumblebee Goby | Caution | Paradise Fish and Bumblebee Goby only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Bumblebee Goby. |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Celestial Pearl Danio. |
| Cherry Barb | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Cherry Barb. |
| Chili Rasbora | Caution | Paradise Fish grows 4× longer than Chili Rasbora and may treat it as food.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Chili Rasbora. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Caution | Paradise Fish and Chinese Algae Eater only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Clown Killifish | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Clown Killifish. |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Caution | Paradise Fish and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Dwarf Gourami | Caution | Paradise Fish and Dwarf Gourami only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Caution | Paradise Fish and Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Caution | Paradise Fish and Electric Blue Acara only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Ember Tetra | Caution | Paradise Fish grows 4× longer than Ember Tetra and may treat it as food.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Ember Tetra. |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Harlequin Rasbora. |
| Honey Gourami | Caution | Paradise Fish and Honey Gourami only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Julii Cory | Caution | Paradise Fish and Julii Cory only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Paradise Fish and Kissing Gourami only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Lemon Tetra | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Marbled Hatchetfish. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Paradise Fish (pH 6–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Paradise Fish (5–20 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Neon Tetra | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Neon Tetra. |
| Nerite Snail | Caution | Paradise Fish and Nerite Snail only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Odessa Barb | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Odessa Barb. |
| Otocinclus | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Otocinclus. |
| Panda Cory | Caution | Paradise Fish and Panda Cory only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Panda Cory. |
| Pea Puffer | Caution | Paradise Fish and Pea Puffer only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Penguin Tetra | Caution | Paradise Fish and Penguin Tetra only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Penguin Tetra. |
| Peppered Cory | Caution | Paradise Fish and Peppered Cory only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Pictus Catfish | Caution | Paradise Fish and Pictus Catfish only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Platy | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Platy. |
| Pristella Tetra | Caution | Paradise Fish and Pristella Tetra only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Pristella Tetra. |
| Pygmy Cory | Caution | Paradise Fish and Pygmy Cory only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Pygmy Cory. |
| Ramshorn Snail | Caution | Paradise Fish and Ramshorn Snail only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Caution | Paradise Fish and Scissortail Rasbora only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Silver Hatchetfish. |
| Sparkling Gourami | Caution | Paradise Fish and Sparkling Gourami only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Sparkling Gourami. |
| Tinfoil Barb | Caution | Paradise Fish and Tinfoil Barb only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Variatus Platy | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Variatus Platy. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful White Cloud Mountain Minnow. |
| Zebra Danio | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Zebra Danio. |
| African Dwarf Frog | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and African Dwarf Frog (74–77°F) need different temperatures.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog. |
| Amano Shrimp | Avoid | Paradise Fish will eat Amano Shrimp. |
| Angelfish | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Angelfish (75–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Assassin Snail | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Assassin Snail (75–80°F) need different temperatures. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Avoid | Paradise Fish and Bamboo Shrimp only share 71–72°F. That's a tight window.; Paradise Fish will eat Bamboo Shrimp. |
| Black Neon Tetra | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Black Neon Tetra (73–82°F) need different temperatures.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Black Neon Tetra. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Blood Parrot Cichlid (76–80°F) need different temperatures. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Bolivian Ram | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Bolivian Ram (75–82°F) need different temperatures. |
| Cardinal Tetra | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Cardinal Tetra (73–84°F) need different temperatures.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Cardinal Tetra. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Avoid | Paradise Fish will eat Cherry Shrimp. |
| Clown Loach | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Clown Loach (75–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Clown Pleco | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Clown Pleco (73–82°F) need different temperatures. |
| Congo Tetra | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Congo Tetra (73–82°F) need different temperatures. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Convict Cichlid (75–82°F) need different temperatures. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Avoid | Paradise Fish and Crystal Red Shrimp only share 71–72°F. That's a tight window.; Paradise Fish will eat Crystal Red Shrimp. |
| Diamond Tetra | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Diamond Tetra (75–82°F) need different temperatures. |
| Discus | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Discus (79–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Electric Yellow Lab (75–82°F) need different temperatures. |
| Endler's Livebearer | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Endler's Livebearer (75–86°F) need different temperatures.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Endler's Livebearer. |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Forktail Blue-eye (75–82°F) need different temperatures. |
| German Blue Ram | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful German Blue Ram. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Avoid | Paradise Fish and Ghost Shrimp only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.; Paradise Fish will eat Ghost Shrimp. |
| Glowlight Tetra | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Glowlight Tetra (75–82°F) need different temperatures.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Glowlight Tetra. |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Head-and-tail-light Tetra (75–82°F) need different temperatures.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Head-and-tail-light Tetra. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Paradise Fish and Iridescent Shark only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.; Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Paradise Fish only grows to about 3.8 in. |
| Kribensis | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Kribensis (75–81°F) need different temperatures. |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Lambchop Rasbora (73–82°F) need different temperatures.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Lambchop Rasbora. |
| Moonlight Gourami | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Paradise Fish and Oscar only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.; Oscar eats small fish, and Paradise Fish only grows to about 3.8 in. |
| Pearl Gourami | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Pearl Gourami (75–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Rummy-nose Tetra (73–79°F) need different temperatures.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Rummy-nose Tetra. |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Silver Tip Tetra (73–82°F) need different temperatures.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Silver Tip Tetra. |
| Sterbai Cory | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Sterbai Cory (75–82°F) need different temperatures. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Three-spot Gourami (75–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Upside-down Catfish | Avoid | Paradise Fish (50–72°F) and Upside-down Catfish (75–82°F) need different temperatures. |
Care notes
Needs: Cool-water fish: can live unheated and benefits from a cool winter period; not for warm tropical tanks; males territorial and fight; avoid similarly shaped fish; tight cover
Group: Not a shoaling fish; one male per tank unless very large; if keeping a pair, SF advises two or more females per male
Temperament: semi-aggressive toward other fish, aggressive toward its own kind. Lives in the top of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Paradise Fish get?
About 3.8 inches (8 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Paradise Fish need?
At least 31 inches long and about 19 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 40 gallon breeder.
How many Paradise Fishs should be kept together?
It can be kept on its own. Not a shoaling fish; one male per tank unless very large; if keeping a pair, SF advises two or more females per male
What fish can live with a Paradise Fish?
Species that passed every check include Guppy, Bronze Cory, Kuhli Loach, Bristlenose Pleco, Tiger Barb, Molly.
Gear for a Paradise Fish setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 40 gallon breeder (36 in long).Find on Amazon →ThermometerCool-water fish: skip the heater, watch summer highs.Find on Amazon →FoodMeaty frozen foods suit its diet.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified (independent spot-check). Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/macropodus-opercularis/
- fishbase.se /summary/Macropodus-opercularis.html