Tetras
Tetras are the backbone of the community tank: small, colorful and happiest in a proper school. Most want soft, slightly acidic water and a group of six or more. Each profile lists the tank size and conditions a species does best in.
63 species
African Moon Tetra
Bathyaethiops caudomaculatus3.1 in (8 cm)22 gal (85 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)
African tigerfish
Hydrocynus vittatus29.5 in (75 cm)1,057 gal (4,000 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi1.4 in (3.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Black phantom tetra
Hyphessobrycon megalopterus1.4 in (3.6 cm)17 gal (65 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)
Black widow tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Bleeding heart tetra
Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)
Blind cave tetra
Astyanax mexicanus4.7 in (12 cm)25 gal (95 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Bloodfin tetra
Aphyocharax anisitsi2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Blue tetra
Knodus borki2 in (5 cm)22 gal (85 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Bucktooth tetra
Exodon paradoxus4.7 in (12 cm)45 gal (170 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Buenos Aires tetra
Hyphessobrycon anisitsi3 in (7.5 cm)25 gal (95 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Cardinal tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi1.8 in (4.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–84°F (23–29°C)
Ceros Tetra
Moenkhausia ceros2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Cochu's blue tetra
Boehlkea fredcochui2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Colombian Tetra
Hyphessobrycon columbianus2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Congo tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus3.1 in (8 cm)24 gal (90 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Diamond tetra
Moenkhausia pittieri2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Ember tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae0.8 in (2 cm)9 gal (35 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Emperor tetra
Nematobrycon palmeri2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
False rummynose tetra
Petitella georgiae2 in (5 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Flag Tetra
Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus1.4 in (3.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)
Flame tetra
Hyphessobrycon flammeus1 in (2.5 cm)10 gal (38 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Garnet tetra
Hemigrammus pulcher1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Glass bloodfin tetra
Prionobrama filigera2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Glass tetra
Moenkhausia oligolepis2 in (5 cm)18 gal (70 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Glowlight tetra
Hemigrammus erythrozonus1.6 in (4 cm)18 gal (70 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Golden Tetra
Hemigrammus rodwayi2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Green fire tetra
Aphyocharax rathbuni2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Green neon tetra
Paracheirodon simulans1 in (2.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
Head-and-taillight tetra
Hemigrammus ocellifer1.8 in (4.5 cm)17 gal (65 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Hummingbird tetra
Trochilocharax ornatus0.8 in (2 cm)12 gal (45 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
January tetra
Hemigrammus hyanuary1.6 in (4 cm)17 gal (65 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Jellybean tetra
Ladigesia roloffi1.2 in (3 cm)10 gal (37 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Lemon tetra
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis2 in (5 cm)17 gal (65 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Lesser bleeding heart tetra
Hyphessobrycon socolofi2.2 in (5.6 cm)24 gal (90 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Long-fin tetra
Brycinus longipinnis4.9 in (12.5 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Loreto tetra
Hyphessobrycon loretoensis1.4 in (3.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Mayan Tetra
Hyphessobrycon compressus1.8 in (4.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi1.5 in (3.8 cm)11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Niger tetra
Arnoldichthys spilopterus3.9 in (10 cm)50 gal (190 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Ornate tetra
Hyphessobrycon bentosi1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Penguin tetra
Thayeria boehlkei2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Peruvian tetra
Hyphessobrycon peruvianus1.6 in (4 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Purple tetra
Hyphessobrycon metae1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Rainbow emperor tetra
Nematobrycon lacortei2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Red eye tetra
Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae2.8 in (7 cm)28 gal (105 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Red flush tetra
Hemigrammus stictus2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Red phantom tetra
Hyphessobrycon sweglesi1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Rosy tetra
Hyphessobrycon rosaceus1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Royal tetra
Inpaichthys kerri1.4 in (3.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Ruby tetra
Axelrodia riesei0.8 in (2 cm)12 gal (45 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Rummy-nose tetra
Hemigrammus rhodostomus2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Rummynose tetra
Petitella bleheri2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Serpae tetra
Hyphessobrycon serpae1.8 in (4.5 cm)17 gal (65 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Sharptooth tetra
Micralestes acutidens3.5 in (9 cm)32 gal (120 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Silver Dollar
Metynnis argenteus5.9 in (15 cm)70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Silver Dollar
Metynnis hypsauchen5.5 in (14 cm)70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Silvertip tetra
Hasemania nana1.6 in (4 cm)18 gal (70 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Spot-tail Tetra
Brycinus imberi7.9 in (20 cm)65 gal (245 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Tucano tetra
Tucanoichthys tucano0.8 in (2 cm)12 gal (45 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
X-ray tetra
Pristella maxillaris1.8 in (4.5 cm)18 gal (70 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Yellow Phantom Tetra
Hyphessobrycon roseus0.8 in (2 cm)7 gal (25 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Yellow-tailed Congo tetra
Alestopetersius caudalis2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
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