As an aquarium lover, one of the hardest things about having an aquarium is choosing the right species for your aquarium. With the variety of fish species to choose from, you can easily get confused. One of the popular aquarium species to choose from is Tetra.
Tetras are colorful, fun, schooling fish species that will beautify your tank. They are small, active, and peaceful species and can quickly adapt to different aquarium setups.
They come in several subspecies with varying colors ranging from blue, red, dark brown, black, orange, yellow, and many others, and they love the middle levels of aquariums.
Whether you have a big or small tank, it doesn’t matter. Tetras will fit despite your tank size. They come in different sizes and temperaments and will not just beautify your tank but bring life to it.
This article will broaden your knowledge on the different types of tetras you can pick from for your aquarium.
So Sit, Relax, and Enjoy!
Neon Tetra
Neon Tetras are one of the best-known species of Tetras. They are very popular in the aquarium trade and are known by most aquarium lovers. Hence, they can be easily found and are inexpensive.
This species is ideal for your tank, whether you are a beginner or not. They are easy to care for, brightly colored, active, and very peaceful.
Their bright blue stripe runs down their bodies horizontally with a bright red stripe which runs from half of their bodies to their tails. They can be easily seen because of their bright colors.
They do well when mixed with other peaceful fish species in the same tank. They are schooling fish and prefer to be in groups. They do well in groups of 8 or more.
Neon Tetras love plenty of space with many live plants and caves where they can hide. However, they can be very sensitive to changes in water parameters, so make sure to maintain the water temperature of their tanks at all times.
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Minimum aquarium size: 10-15 gallons
- Scientific name: Paracheirodon innesi
- Size: Up to 1.5 inches
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivorous
- Temperature: 21-27 °C (69-80 °F)
- Life Span: 5-10 years
Black Skirt/Black Widow Tetra
Black skirt tetras are well-known for their fins and dark bodies. They have black or grey fins with two vertical black stripes in the middle of their bodies.
Their fins are longer and more flowy than most species of Tetras and can reach up to 5 years of age. They are active and very peaceful fish species and prefer to live in schools of at least 5. However, they can pair and live well in a community tank.
They can be easily cared for and do not require too many specific requirements when it comes to feeding, water temperature, or housing.
They are active swimmers and can spend most of the day swimming around the tank just to explore. Provide them with plenty of coverage; they enjoy tanks planted with tall plants they can swim through and graze on all day long. Their water temperature should be slightly acidic and soft, but since they are hardy species, they can adapt to a wide range of temperatures and pH.
- Minimum Tank Size: 15 to 20 gallons
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Size: 3 inches
- Life Span: 3-5 years
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Water Temperature: 75–80 °F (24-27 °C)
- Scientific Name: Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Cardinal Tetra
Often, cardinal tetras are mistaken for neon tetras due to their very familiar look. However, the most differentiating attribute between these two is the red stripe that runs along both of their bodies. For cardinal tetras, their red stripes extend from their gills down to their tails. While for neon tetras, the red stripes take about half of the body.
Cardinal tetras are also longer than neon tetras, are peaceful, and can do well in community tanks. In addition, they are very easy to care for and prefer to be in schools.
These species can spend most of their time swimming around the tank in shoals, so be sure to provide them with plenty of plants and hiding holes such as caves, rocks, etc.
They prefer dim lights, which you can provide through floating lights. Their water should also be soft and slightly acidic with slight fluctuations.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Lifespan: 2-5 Years
- Scientific Name: Paracheirodon axelrodi
- Diet: Omnivore
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Size: 2 inches
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 to 20 gallons
- Water Temperature: 73 – 80 °F
Serpae Tetra
Serpae tetras are sometimes known as Callistus tetra or jewel tetra. They are more feisty than the other types of tetras already mentioned. They tend to be aggressive when aggravated by other species.
They have beautiful orange coloration, and their color largely depends on the quality of their diet. If not properly fed, they may change color. They are omnivorous and will eat most of the food you give them; ensure to provide them with a high protein diet such as brine shrimps.
Serpae tetra often moves with a school of at least ten and should not be paired with aggressive fish species, especially those with long fins.
A bio-type rectangle aquarium is most suitable for them. Ensure you balance the ratios of the males and female species in your tank. Having more females than males will reduce in-fighting amongst them.
- Size: 1.75 inches
- Minimum aquarium size: 20 gallons or more
- Difficulty level: Beginner to intermediate
- Water Temperature: 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Temperament: Nippy
- Diet: Omnivore
- Lifespan: Up to 7 years
- Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon eques
Emperor Tetra
Emperor tetras are stunning school fish with a unique purple sheen that captivates the eyes and makes your tank colorful. This color gives them an appearance of royalty.
They are sturdy and hardy species that can adapt to a wide range of different water temperatures. They are peaceful and get along well with other aquarium species. However, the males can be more territorial and can often be seen fighting themselves.
One thing that distinguishes the males from the female is their color. The males have deep purple coloring, while the females are somewhat greyish.
They do well in low-light water tanks with a lot of hiding places. To pair easily with other fish species in the same tank, ensure you mix them with species that are not too large to prey on them.
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Diet: Omnivorous
- Lifespan: 4-6 years
- Scientific name: Nematobrycon palmeri
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Size: 2 inches
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
- Water Temperature: 22-27 °C
Ember Tetra
Ember tetras got their name thanks to their bright orange coloration that makes them look like the embers of a fire.
They are small, peaceful, tiny, and playful fish species. Like other tetra species, they love to be school and swim in shoals.
They are smaller than other species of tetra and can’t grow longer than 1 inch. Their fins can either be black or grey.
Like other species of their types, they can strive very well in a community tank. If you’re a beginner when it comes to keeping aquariums, ember tetras are a great start.
They are easy to care for and can live in slightly acidic water. However, they prefer heavily planted aquariums with caves and warm water temperatures.
Be careful not to overfeed your tetras, as this can lead to serious health issues. If they are in a community tank, be sure not to mix them with species that are way bigger or can feed on them.
- Diet: Omnivore
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Size: 1”
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
- Water Temperature: 23-29 °C (73-84 F)
- Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon amandae
- Temperament: Peaceful
Black Neon Tetra
Black neon tetras are peaceful, easy to care for, hardy, and low-maintenance aquarium species. They are very similar to the neon tetra as well, except that they are less colorful.
They have a silvery body or a translucent brown color with a long white line and a black that runs through the length of the body. They also have a horizontal neon green-yellow stripe, and their eyes have a fluorescent orange mark that makes it easy to identify and separate them from other tetras.
Like other tetras, they require plenty of plants and hiding places in their tank. Their water also needs to be slightly acidic and warm for them to do well.
They are schooling fish species and should be kept in a group of at least 5. Do not mix them with aggressive species that can eat them.
- Water Temperature: 73-81 F (20-28 °C)
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Size: 1.5 inches
- Minimum Aquarium Size: 20 gallons
- Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
- Difficulty: Easy
- Lifespan: Up to 5 years
Rummy Nose Tetra
Rummy nose tetras are stunning, colorful, and beautiful species that are a delight to see and will light up your aquariums with their distinguishing feature.
They have an all-silvery body with the whole of their head covered in bright red. Like other tetras, they are peaceful, have a long lifespan, and do well with other fish species.
Their caudal fins are covered with horizontal black and white stripes. These species are skittish and need their tanks heavily planted.
They mostly prefer the middle part of tanks, so whatever plants placed in the tank should reach this point on the tank. In addition, they are sensitive to changes in the water conditions of their tanks. Hence, the water parameters should be maintained and kept slightly acidic.
They are great schooling species and should be kept in a group of at least six or more if you have a big tank. They are of three species: false rummy nose tetras, true rummy nose tetras, and brilliant rummy nose tetras.
- Lifespan: 5–8 years
- Diet: Omnivore
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
- Scientific name: Hemigrammus rhodostomus
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Water Temperature: 22-29 °C (72-84 F)
- Size: 2.5 inches
Congo Tetra
Congo tetras are beautiful little fish with a radiant appearance. They hail from the Congo River in Africa, and their coloration is a colorful mix of blue, green, red, and yellow.
They have large and differentiating scales with grey fins and a tail that have a black outer lining. Half of their body has an iridescent blue color at the top and bottom and gold or red coloration down the rest of their body.
They will thrive better in warm, planted, and low-light tanks. One distinguishing feature they have is their long, flowing fins which are different from other tetras.
They are peaceful and easy-going schooling fish that can pair with other fish species in the same tank. However, you have to be careful not to mix them with fin-nipping species as they may tear their flowing fins.
Congo tetras tend to grow larger than most tetra species and may need a bigger aquarium tank. Although the species is naturally a beauty to behold, the males are more attractive and stunning than females. Hence, they are species that will light up your aquarium with their beautiful colors.
- Difficulty level: Easy–Medium
- Scientific name: Phenacogrammus interruptus
- Minimum Aquarium Size: 40 gallons or more
- Size: 3inches
- Temperament: Active, peaceful
- Water Temperature: 72-82 °F
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Diet: Omnivorous
Bloodfin Tetra
Just as their name implies, bloodfin tetras are covered in red fins with a silverish color. They are small, active, and peaceful fish species. However, their scales have an iridescent sheen which produces tones of turquoise and purple, thus making them stand out.
They are hardy species and can adapt to varying water conditions. If you are a beginner, these species are great fish to start with. Nevertheless, you still need to maintain their tank’s water temperature to enable them to thrive well.
Like other tetra species, they are schooling fish and prefer to be groups of at least 6. They love the upper parts of tanks; hence, you will need to keep a tight lid on their tanks a bit to prevent them from jumping out of their tanks if startled.
They can pair well with other fish, depending on the species, and can be a bit aggressive if they feel threatened. They are also active swimmers that love to swim around thick plants in their tanks.
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Water Temperature: 24-26.6 °C (76-80 F)
- Size: 2 inches
- Difficulty: Easy
- Scientific Name: Aphyocharax anisitsi
- Temperament: Peaceful but occasionally nippy
- Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
- Diet: Omnivore
Conclusion
Tetras are beautiful, peaceful, and easy to care for species. In addition, they are omnivorous, so feeding them does not have too many requirements.
There are over 150 species of tetras worldwide; hence you have many varieties you can choose from aside from those listed here.
They can also do well in community tanks because of their peaceful nature, so you won’t have any problem mixing them with suitable tankmates.
Alexis O. Walker is a freelance writer and editor who is experienced in aquarium management and fish species. Her passion for aquariums arose after spending a whole day looking at beautiful and fascinating aquarium fish, sparking her interest to study about them and learn about proper management and care. She also writes about travel, entrepreneurship, parenting, and self-help.