TankBud

Red eye tetra

Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

FreshwaterFish

Red eye tetra (Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
28 gal
105 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Hard
Rarity
Common
Family
Characidae
Origin
Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina

Overview

The red eye tetra is an active, silver schooling fish for the middle of the tank. It has been a steady community fish for decades, and it is easy to keep.

Did you know

As the red eye tetra ages, its silver scales pick up a darker edge. That gives older fish a faint chain-mail look across the body.

Caring for the red eye tetra

Keep red eye tetras in a group of at least six, and more if you can. A proper school settles them down and brings out their best behavior. A tank of 28 gal (105 L) or larger gives them room to move. Leave open swimming room in the middle, with some plants along the edges and a bit of wood.

Red eye tetras are hardy enough to handle a wide range of conditions. Aim for 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed a mix of flake, small pellets and occasional frozen or live foods, such as brine shrimp or bloodworms.

They are active mid-water swimmers and mostly peaceful. A tight school can nip fins, though, so skip slow, long-finned tank mates. They are egg scatterers with no parental care, and breeding them is hard.

Good to know

The red eye tetra is a characin in the family Characidae, named for the red ring around the top of its eye. The ring stands out against a plain silver body. Healthy fish commonly live around 3 to 5 years, and the IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.

In the wild

Red eye tetras come from slow to moderate rivers and streams across Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. They often live over sand or mud, with plants and submerged wood around. The water there runs clear to slightly cloudy and sits on the acidic to neutral side.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The red eye tetra is a mostly 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a red eye tetra need?

A red eye tetra needs at least 28 gal (105 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a red eye tetra need?

A red eye tetra is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a red eye tetra eat?

A red eye tetra eats a mix of flake and small pellets, with occasional frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp or bloodworms.

How big does a red eye tetra get?

An adult red eye tetra reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

Does a red eye tetra need a group?

Yes. A red eye tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a red eye tetra breed?

Red eye tetras are egg scatterers and give no parental care. Breeding them is hard.

Related species