X-ray tetra
Pristella maxillaris
Also known as pristella tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- 22–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–8.0
- Adult size
- 1.8 in
- 4.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 18 gal
- 70 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Egg scatterer · Hard
- Rarity
- Very common
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Venezuela, The Guianas
Overview
The x-ray tetra is a small, peaceful schooling fish for a community tank. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
The x-ray tetra has a chain of small bones, the Weberian apparatus, that links its swim bladder to its inner ear. This gives it sharp hearing and helps the whole school react together to nearby movement or noise.
Caring for the x-ray tetra
Keep x-ray tetras in a school of at least six, which settles them and cuts down on nipping. A group fits in 18 gal (70 L) or more. A planted tank with some open water keeps them comfortable, and they stay mostly in the middle of the tank.
X-ray tetras adapt to a range of conditions. Soft to moderately hard water works, at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 8.0. Unusually for a tetra, they also handle slightly brackish water.
X-ray tetras are peaceful, active swimmers and not fussy eaters. Feed flake, micro pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp. They are egg scatterers with no parental care, and spawning them is on the harder side.
Good to know
The x-ray tetra, Pristella maxillaris, is a small characin in the family Characidae, also known as the pristella tetra. Its body is see-through, so you can make out the backbone and the swim bladder, which is where the name comes from.
In the wild
The x-ray tetra lives in coastal rivers and streams across Venezuela and the Guianas, including waters that turn brackish near the sea.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The x-ray 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.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Marble wood shrimp
Atya scabra
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Xingu cory
Hoplisoma xinguense
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 18 gal (70 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an x-ray tetra need?
An x-ray tetra needs at least 18 gal (70 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does an x-ray tetra need?
An x-ray tetra is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–8.0.
What does an x-ray tetra eat?
An x-ray tetra is not a fussy eater. It takes flake, micro pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.
How big does an x-ray tetra get?
An adult x-ray tetra reaches about 1.8 in (4.5 cm).
Does an x-ray tetra need a group?
Yes. An x-ray tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How does an x-ray tetra breed?
X-ray tetras scatter their eggs and give no parental care. Spawning them is on the harder side.
Related species
1.8 in (4.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–84°F (23–29°C)Cardinal tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Garnet tetra
Hemigrammus pulcher
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)17 gal (65 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Head-and-taillight tetra
Hemigrammus ocellifer
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 17 gal (65 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Mayan tetra
Hyphessobrycon compressus
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Ornate tetra
Hyphessobrycon bentosi
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Purple tetra
Hyphessobrycon metae
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)