Compare these two in the visual aquarium planner
Transfers the two species into an editable 30 US gal example with count one each. This is not a stocking recommendation.
Troubleshooting community setups: see the compatibility result using temperature, pH, GH/KH, adult size, behavior, schooling needs, and predator/prey rules.
Short answer: Likely, when tank size, group needs, and water parameters are handled. Plan for at least 20 gallons before adjusting for group size, filtration, and aquascape layout.
Data confidence: medium
apistogramma cacatuoides | neon tetra | apistogramma cacatuoides | neon tetra
This verdict assumes normal social groups, not one stressed specimen. Neon Tetra should be planned at 6+ before judging long-term compatibility.
A compatibility score checks adult size, temperature, pH, hardness, temperament, and tank volume. Real tanks add variables the score cannot see directly: feeding aggression, cave ownership, plant cover, and whether fish can constantly see each other.
Apistogramma Cacatuoides and Neon Tetra use different swim zones, but feeding time and open sightlines can still change behavior. Start with at least 20 gallons, then use hardscape, tall plants, and separated feeding zones to reduce chasing before it becomes a pattern.
Confidence: medium. Aggression, predator/prey, shrimp risk, schooling, and tank size rules are evaluated from curated freshwater attributes.
Problems can happen even when the gallon number is technically adequate. Check feeding order, repeated access to the same cave or plant mass, school size, and whether the aquascape gives either fish a direct line of sight across the whole tank.
If either species uses the lower half of the tank, add more broken sightlines and avoid placing all food in one corner. Bottom pressure is more about usable floor space than total water volume.
Use tall plants, rock piles, driftwood, and separate feeding stations so a dominant fish cannot patrol one open lane from end to end.