Green lizard tetra
Iguanodectes spilurus
Also known as Lizard tetra, Green line tetra, Slender tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 3.5 in
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 32 gal
- 120 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Iguanodectidae
- Origin
- Native to the Amazon basin and the Guianas in South America.
Overview
Keep this elongated tetra in a shoal of at least 6 to 8 in a well planted tank with open swimming room. It is peaceful and a little shy, so avoid boisterous tankmates that will outcompete it. Soft, tannin stained water and dark substrate bring out the green and gold sheen.
In the wild
Lives in soft, often tannin stained streams and flooded forest of the Amazon and Guianas. It shoals in the middle water among wood and marginal plants. The water is warm, gentle, and slightly acidic.
Good to know
Iguanodectes spilurus is an unusually long, thin tetra reaching around 8 cm, with a green and gold body and a fine dark stripe. It belongs to the family Iguanodectidae. The slender, lizard like shape gives it its common name.
Did you know
Its long, pencil thin body sets it apart from the usual diamond shaped tetras and gives it a distinctive gliding way of swimming.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Green lizard tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Long nosed arched cory
Corydoras narcissus
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)73–77°F (23–25°C)
Common hatchetfish
Gasteropelecus sternicla
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 33 gal (125 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Duboulayi's rainbowfish
Melanotaenia duboulayi
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Twig catfish
Farlowella vittata
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blackwing hatchetfish
Carnegiella marthae
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Black-banded rainbowfish
Melanotaenia nigrans
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Green lizard tetra need?
A Green lizard tetra needs at least 32 gal (120 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Green lizard tetra need?
A Green lizard tetra is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
How big does a Green lizard tetra get?
An adult Green lizard tetra reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).
Does a Green lizard tetra need a group?
Yes. A Green lizard tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2.8 in (7 cm)24 gal (90 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Adujai lizard tetra
Iguanodectes adujai
2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)22 gal (85 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)African moon tetra
Bathyaethiops caudomaculatus
3.1 in (8 cm) · 22 gal (85 L)
3 in (7.6 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)Allen's rainbowfish
Chilatherina alleni
3 in (7.6 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3 in (7.5 cm)22 gal (85 L)59–75°F (15–24°C)Golden topminnow
Fundulus chrysotus
3 in (7.5 cm) · 22 gal (85 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)18 gal (70 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)Argentine pearl killifish
Austrolebias nigripinnis
2.8 in (7 cm) · 18 gal (70 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Melon barb
Haludaria fasciata
2.8 in (7 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)