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Tetras
Tetras are small to medium-sized schooling freshwater fish popular in community aquariums. They are known for their colour, peaceful behaviour and compatibility with planted tanks.
14 genera • 23 species indexed
What is Tetras?
Tetras are a broad group of freshwater fish primarily from South America and Africa. In the aquarium hobby, “tetras” refers to small, schooling characin species kept in community tanks.
Group habitat profile
Most tetras originate from slow-moving rivers and tributaries in the Amazon basin and Central Africa, often in soft, slightly acidic water.
Group-level data is editorial only and not used in compatibility scoring.
Genera in Tetras
Compare species in Tetras
23 species shown
| Name | Size | Temperament |
|---|---|---|
 Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi | 4.0 | -- |
 Black Phantom Tetra Megalamphodus megalopterus | 5.0 | -- |
 Bloodfin Tetra Aphyocharax anisitsi | 5.0 | peaceful |
 Buenos Aires Tetra Psalidodon anisitsi | 8.0 | semi aggressive |
 Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi | 3.5 | peaceful |
 Colombian Tetra Hyphessobrycon columbianus | 7.0 | peaceful |
 Congo Tetra Phenacogrammus interruptus | 12.0 | peaceful |
 Diamond Tetra Makunaima pittieri | 6.0 | peaceful |
 Ember Tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae | 2.0 | peaceful |
 Emperor Tetra Nematobrycon palmeri | 5.0 | peaceful |
 Flame Tetra Hyphessobrycon flammeus | 3.0 | peaceful |
 Glowlight Tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus | 4.0 | -- |
 Green Neon Tetra Paracheirodon simulans | 3.0 | peaceful |
 Head and Tail Light Tetra Holopristis ocellifera | 5.0 | peaceful |
 Lemon Tetra Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis | 4.0 | -- |
 Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi | 4.0 | peaceful |
 Penguin Tetra Thayeria boehlkei | 6.0 | peaceful |
 Red Phantom Tetra Megalamphodus sweglesi | 4.0 | -- |
 Rosy Tetra Megalamphodus rosaceus | 5.0 | peaceful |
 Rummynose Tetra Petitella bleheri | 4.0 | -- |
:strip_icc()/Serpae_Tetra_Faucon-56a330613df78cf7727c4dc1.JPG) Serpae Tetra Megalamphodus eques | 4.0 | semi aggressive |
 Silver Tip Tetra Hasemania nana | 5.0 | peaceful |
X-Ray Tetra Pristella maxillaris | 5.0 | peaceful |
| Species | Size (cm) | Temp (C) | pH | Hardness | Flow | Temperament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi | 4.0 | 23.0 to 27.0 C | 6.0 to 7.0 | soft to medium | medium | -- |
Black Phantom Tetra Megalamphodus megalopterus | 5.0 | 22.0 to 28.0 C | 6.0 to 7.5 | soft to medium | low | -- |
Bloodfin Tetra Aphyocharax anisitsi | 5.0 | 15.0 to 28.0 C | 6.5 to 7.5 | soft to medium | medium | peaceful |
Buenos Aires Tetra Psalidodon anisitsi | 8.0 | 15.0 to 27.0 C | 6.0 to 7.5 | soft to medium | low | semi aggressive |
Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi | 3.5 | 23.0 to 27.0 C | 5.0 to 7.0 | very soft to soft | low | peaceful |
Colombian Tetra Hyphessobrycon columbianus | 7.0 | 24.0 to 27.0 C | 5.5 to 7.0 | very soft to soft | low | peaceful |
Congo Tetra Phenacogrammus interruptus | 12.0 | 23.0 to 26.0 C | 6.0 to 8.0 | soft to hard | medium | peaceful |
Diamond Tetra Makunaima pittieri | 6.0 | 24.0 to 28.0 C | 5.5 to 7.0 | very soft to soft | low | peaceful |
Ember Tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae | 2.0 | 24.0 to 28.0 C | 6.0 to 7.0 | very soft to soft | medium | peaceful |
Emperor Tetra Nematobrycon palmeri | 5.0 | 23.0 to 27.0 C | 5.5 to 7.5 | very soft to medium | low | peaceful |
Flame Tetra Hyphessobrycon flammeus | 3.0 | 16.0 to 28.0 C | 5.8 to 7.8 | very soft to medium | low | peaceful |
Glowlight Tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus | 4.0 | 24.0 to 28.0 C | 5.5 to 7.0 | very soft to medium | low | -- |
Green Neon Tetra Paracheirodon simulans | 3.0 | 24.0 to 27.0 C | 5.5 to 6.5 | very soft to soft | low | peaceful |
Head and Tail Light Tetra Holopristis ocellifera | 5.0 | 22.0 to 26.0 C | 6.0 to 8.0 | very soft to medium | low | peaceful |
Lemon Tetra Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis | 4.0 | 23.0 to 28.0 C | 6.5 to 7.5 | very soft to medium | low | -- |
| 4.0 | 20.0 to 26.0 C | 5.5 to 7.5 | very soft to medium | low | peaceful |
Penguin Tetra Thayeria boehlkei | 6.0 | 22.0 to 28.0 C | 6.0 to 7.5 | soft to medium | low | peaceful |
Red Phantom Tetra Megalamphodus sweglesi | 4.0 | 20.0 to 23.0 C | 6.0 to 7.5 | soft to medium | low | -- |
Rosy Tetra Megalamphodus rosaceus | 5.0 | 24.0 to 28.0 C | 5.5 to 7.5 | very soft to medium | low | peaceful |
Rummynose Tetra Petitella bleheri | 4.0 | 22.0 to 28.0 C | 5.5 to 7.0 | very soft to medium | low | -- |
Serpae Tetra Megalamphodus eques | 4.0 | 22.0 to 26.0 C | 6.0 to 7.5 | soft to medium | low | semi aggressive |
Silver Tip Tetra Hasemania nana | 5.0 | 22.0 to 28.0 C | 6.0 to 8.0 | soft to medium | medium | peaceful |
X-Ray Tetra Pristella maxillaris | 5.0 | 24.0 to 28.0 C | 6.0 to 8.0 | soft to medium | medium | peaceful |