Looking for some companions that won’t interfere too much with your albino rainbow shark? Check out our list of the best albino rainbow shark tank mates!
The 15 Best Albino Rainbow shark Tank Mates are fish that can handle being in the same type of water and habitat without fighting due to territorial temperaments.
These fish should also be able to eat at different times or different types of meals altogether to cut down on unnecessary food competition.
In this article we’ll show you our 15 best albino rainbow shark tank mates and what makes each ideal. This will include a description of what every fish is like, but especially why they are great matchups for your rainbow shark!
Contents
Albino Rainbow Shark Tank Mates – What You Need to Know
The albino rainbow shark has it’s own needs which must be met. Learning more about these can help you to pick out tank mates with similar standards. Let’s get the basics down below.
Temperament
Temperament is just as important in compatible fish as it would be incompatible human roommates, only slightly more serious! If a fish does not have a temperament that lines up with your albino rainbow shark, they could wind up fighting and even killing each other.
The albino rainbow shark is not an overly aggressive fish with those that are not of its own kind. However, it can become aggressive if it feels its territory is being threatened by fish that look too much like itself: this is a fish that wants to look special!
Find fish that are either large enough to look like the albino rainbow shark without being bullied, or fish that look nothing like the albino rainbow shark and have peaceful personalities.
Size
The albino rainbow shark only grows to be medium-sized according to most standards, reaching 6 inches (15cm) in largest length. To avoid fish that get eaten by this albino rainbow shark, you’ll need ones that are at least 3 inches (7cm) in length or bigger, or are fast and strong enough in numbers to avoid being mistaken for a snack.
Competition
Competition refers to how much energy an albino rainbow shark might have to put out to get its fair share at mealtime with other tank mates. If your albino rainbow shark eats something similar to its tank mates, and eats at the same time as them, there is a chance someone will be missing out and could starve to death.
Therefore, pick tank mates that do not eat algae wafers or dwarf shrimp, or eat at the bottom of the tank instead of the top.
Parameters & Tank Setup
The temperature of water for an albino rainbow shark will be 68 to 79 degrees F (20-26C). It will also need at least 55 gallons (200L) of water, with more added for each fish you place with it. Any tank mates need to enjoy the same water parameters healthily.
Best Albino Rainbow Shark Tank Mates
Now that we’ve covered what to look out for, let’s check on the best tank mates for your albino rainbow shark!
- Bristlenose Pleco
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows
- Congo Tetra
- Hillstream Loach
- Bee Shrimp
- Scissortail Rasbora
- Blue Gourami
- Harlequin Rasbora
- Boesemani Rainbowfish
- Black Skirt Tetra
- Black Ruby Barb
- Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish
- Rosy Barb
- Tiger Barb
- Zebra Danio
Below you’ll find our complete run-down on each of these excellent tank mates.
1. Bristlenose Pleco
- Scientific Name: Ancistrus cirrhosus
- Adult Size: 5 inches (12cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Amazon river Basin
Everybody loves the bushy-faced bristlenose pleco! You’ll find this fish on lists of compatible tank dwellers all over the place because it is so peaceful and easy to take care of.
This fish is a bottom-dweller characterized by it’s whisker-laden face. It will clean the tank and bother nobody, looking nothing like the albino rainbow shark.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
2. White Cloud Mountain Minnows
- Scientific Name: Tanichthys albonubes
- Adult Size: 1 and a half inches (3.5cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: China’s Mountains of White Clouds
White Cloud Mountain Minnows are named for the one, very specific location they come from in China. They are not quite as rare as they used to be, however, because beginner aquariums can care for and breed them so easily.
These fish are peaceful, silver-to-white, with a faint blue stripe to distinguish them.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
3. Congo Tetra
- Scientific Name: Alestidae
- Adult Size: 3 and a half inches (7cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: River Basin of the Congo
Named, like the White Cloud mountain Minnow, for the place it comes from in the natural world, the Congo tetra is never happier than when it is with others of its kind. While this is happening, the Congo tetra keeps up its peaceful demeanor.
This fish represents no threat to the sometimes-touchy albino rainbow shark. It is a shining white and orange fish with a long dorsal fin and wide, leaf-like tail.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
4. Hillstream Loach
- Scientific Name: Sewellia lineolata
- Adult Size: 2.5 inches (6cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Vietnam
This fish is also called “flossensaugers,” which is fun to say, but perhaps not as visually descriptive as its other name “lizardfish.” This is an omnivore with a calm temperament.
This fish is typically pale brown with darker speckles and stripe-like markings. It is very pretty to look at from above, and tends to stay on the bottom of the tank.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
5. Bee Shrimp
- Scientific Name: Caridina cantonensis
- Adult Size: 1.5 inches (3cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Taiwan
This little shrimp will not only spice up the look of your aquarium but comes in lots of different colors! This scavenging creature can be striped with gold and black, white and orangey-red, or even black and white.
In addition to being nice to look at, this little shrimp will clean up the tank without harming the albino rainbow shark. However, they only live for a little over a year.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
6. Scissortail Rasbora
- Scientific Name: Rasbora trilineata
- Adult Size: 3.5 inches (8cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Cambodia, Borneo, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, Sumatra
Found in several places around the world, this lovely rasbora will make a pleasing companion to your albino rainbow shark. If you have a rainbow shark, chances are, you’ll love the silvery color and forked, speckled fin of this rasbora.
It prefers to be in schools of it’s own kind, but don’t worry; your rainbow shark is not likely to feel threatened by this smaller, peaceful fish.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
7. Blue Gourami
- Scientific Name: Trichogaster trichopterus
- Adult Size: 5 inches (12cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Southeast Asia
The only trouble you might have with this beautifully colored gourami is that it can, under certain circumstances, be aggressive. However, keep in mind that the albino rainbow shark, as an adult, can hold its own and stays in its own territory.
Thus, with enough visual obstacles like plants and rocks and plenty of room, the blue gourami and albino rainbow shark shouldn’t bother one another too much.
You’ll get to enjoy the wide variety of beautiful colors that the blue gourami, which looks like the reflection of a chlorine pool’s light, has to offer!
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- Some chance of aggression
8. Harlequin Rasbora
- Scientific Name: Trigonostigma heteromorpha
- Adult Size: 1.75 inches (4cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Medium Difficulty
- Origin: Malaysia, Sumatra, Southeast Asia
The harlequin rasbora is simply fun to watch. It is energetic and lively, much like it’s yellow color. While it is playing tag with 4 or more of its own kind, you’ll get a glimpse of the rasbora’s chic black spot near its tail.
This fish is energetic, but peaceful, and won’t bug your rainbow shark.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
9. Boesemani Rainbowfish
- Scientific Name: Melatonaenia boesemani
- Adult Size: 4 and a half inches (11cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Indonesian Lakes
This fish is large, but looks nothing like the territorial albino rainbow shark, so you shouldn’t have any trouble with fighting. Plus, it has a very mild-mannered temper!
The boesemani rainbowfish is named for it’s white-to-blue-to yellow blend of colors. It has a funny tapered head on a mostly round body.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
10. Black Skirt Tetra
- Scientific Name: Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
- Adult Size: 3 inches (7cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: South America, Rio Paraguay
The Black Skirt Tetra is also sometimes known as the black widow tetra. Though this sounds ominous, don’t worry; this smaller fish is not aggressive.
The black skirt tetra has a cute round face with big eyes and a silver body which sometimes is marked with black.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
11. Black Ruby Barb
- Scientific Name: pethia nigrofasciata
- Adult Size: 2 inches (5cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Sri Lanka
Another peaceful tank mate for the rainbow shark, the black ruby barb has two colors in it’s name for its unique look.
This fish is mostly strawberry-colored; however, each scale is fringed with eye-catching dark colors. This makes it very striking to watch. It is a peaceful fish that won’t try and encroach on the albino rainbow shark’s territory.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
12. Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish
- Scientific Name: Melanotaenia praecox
- Adult Size: 3.2 inches (8cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: New Guinea
The dwarf neon rainbowfish is named for it’s small size, meaning your albino rainbow shark won’t feel threatened by it.
However, it comes in a very lovely range of colors. Sometimes this is limited to a silver with hints of gold and cyan, and sometimes it is eye-catching in neon pink fins and an iridescent violet body.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
13. Rosy Barb
- Scientific Name: Puntius conchonius
- Adult Size: 6 inches (15cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: India
The rosy barb is a peaceful little swimmer, but very energetic. It enjoys exploring the whole of the tank, but thanks to its kind temperament, it will stay out of the albino rainbow shark’s personal space.
It is a larger fish, with gold to firey coloring. Its spiky fins and red look give it the same vibe as a rockstar fish!
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
14. Tiger Barb
- Scientific Name: Barbus tetrazona
- Adult Size: 3 inches (7cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Medium Difficulty
- Origin: Sumatra
The tiger barb can be found playing tag with it’s brethren in the middle of the tank. It is not a picky eater, and for this reason, can be simple to take care of.
It is also peaceful, posing no bullying risk for your shark. However, the tiger barb can become a fin-nipper without enough of it’s own kind to be occupied with. It is named for it’s sunny colors and stripes.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
15. Zebra Danio
- Scientific Name: Danio Rerio
- Adult Size: 2 inch (5cm)
- Compatible With: Albino Rainbow Shark
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: India
A school of zebra danios can usually be found all over the tank, lighting it up with iridescent little stripes. It is a peaceful fish that is easy to care for.
This fish is tiny, but you can see it gets it’s name from dark stripes over more lively coloring.
Pros of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Albino Rainbow Shark :
- None
In Conclusion
To sum it all up, the 15 best albino rainbow shark tank mates are fish that are big enough to avoid being intimidated by the albino rainbow shark, but not too big or too similar in appearance to the rainbow shark. This will cut down on territory disputes. As long as this, and similar tank needs, are considered, you’ll have no trouble finding a good tank mate!
Check out these other related posts:
Veteran fish keeper and keen hobbyist with a serious case of MTS. My midlife crisis was the establishment of a fish room, much to my wife’s horror. Little does she know it could be worse!!