Can Neon tetra Live With Sumatra barb?

The tiger barb's reputation for biting fins is earned, and its profile is direct about it: the fish is boisterous and a poor companion for timid, slow moving or long finned species. A 3 cm neon is timid by any measure, and at 6 cm the barb is twice its length.

The nipping is mostly a symptom of too few barbs. In a group of 8 to 10 or more they spend their attention on each other, competing for rank and for females; in threes and fours they turn on whatever else is in the tank. Tetras are listed among the species that can work once the barbs are properly grouped.

Water is not the obstacle, with 21 to 25 °C and pH 5 to 7.5 suiting both. If you try it, use a tank with open swimming room, about 72 litres or more, buy the full group of barbs rather than a few, keep 8 to 10 neons so no single fish is exposed, and have a plan for separating them if the chasing starts.