Suppose you’re a beginner at fishkeeping and aquariums. If that’s the case, you need beginner-friendly fish. Not all fish are easy to take care of, and many require a lot of space. However, the tetra fish is one of the most popular fish, especially for beginners and freshwater aquariums.
Tetras are small and inexpensive fish that are easy to care for and don’t take up much space. With that being said, there are dozens of tetra types that you can find, and each is different from the other. First, let’s take a look at the most popular types of tetras.
Types of Tetras
Ember Tetra
The ember tetra might not be one of the most well-known or popular species, but it is one of the better-looking ones. This is a fish that is found mainly in central Brazil.
As you can probably tell by its name, this tetra is orange in color or almost red. It’s a good-looking fish that contrasts nicely with your aquarium’s greenery.
As for care, this is a fantastic fish for beginners. They do well in moderate tropical water conditions, and they aren’t hard to care for either. However, they aren’t picky fish.
These tetras will create large schools if you get a lot of them together. However, they measure about 1 inch in length, and you will need a 10-gallon tank to accommodate a few of them.
Black Skirt Tetra
The black skirt is near the top in terms of most popular types due to its beautiful coloration. It has very large fins, especially its anal fin, which is long and flowing. Moreover, the fins run measure nearly half the length of the fish.
This is not a brightly colored fish, and as the name implies, it’s black and silver. They might look quite intimidating, but they’re actually peaceful and friendly fish.
They’re community fish that like living in groups of five or six. These are some of the largest tetras as they measure about 3 inches in length. To keep five of them together, you’ll need a tank of about 20 gallons. It’s a perfectly beginner-friendly fish.
Serpae Tetra
This type of Tetra fish looks similar to the ember tetra, but instead of having red and orange fins, it has black-tipped fins. This produces color contrast, especially with the right background.
This is also a fairly large tetra in terms of size, as it measures 1.75 inches. Therefore, you will need at least a 10-gallon tank to keep a few of them together. Remember, this is a schooling fish, so you should keep about five of them together.
Moreover, these fish are relatively easy to take care of, although they aren’t quite as beginner-friendly as the ember or black skirt tetras that we previously discussed. They require pretty specific water conditions, making them a little harder to take care of than others.
Neon Tetra
Probably the most recognizable of all tetras is the neon tetra fish. This is easily one of the most identifiable species due to its vibrant coloration. These fish have a body of various hues of blue and green, along with a very bright red stripe along the second half of the body.
This fish can be found worldwide, and it’s a tetra that is exceptionally beginner-friendly. Neon tetras measure about 1.5 inches long, and you’ll need at least a 20-gallon tank to keep a few of them together as they like to be in schools.
Congo Tetra
The Congo tetra is at the top of the list of the most beautiful types of tetras. This fish features an amazing coloration that features iridescent blue, violet, gold, and bright orange. It’s a very noble-looking fish that really stands out in any aquarium.
This is by far one of the largest tetras, as they can grow to around 3.5 inches. These are schooling fish, and you should keep about five or six of them together, which will require a 30-gallon tank.
These are peaceful fish that work well in a community setting. Just be aware that they like to nip on leaves and are voracious eaters, so they’re not the most beginner-friendly of fish.
Rummy Nose Tetra
The rummy nose tetra has a translucent body that you can somewhat see-through, along with a bright red face. This makes it one of the most unique looking of all the tetras.
However, they require relatively specific water conditions, so they’re not the easiest fish to care for.
With that said, they like to be in groups of six or seven, and they are peaceful schooling fish that work well in a community tank. However, they measure about 2.5 inches, and to keep a group of them together, you’ll need at least a 20-gallon tank.
And Many More!
As we said, there are too many types of tetras to cover here today. However, we created a list of the more common tetras you are most likely to find.
- Green neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Emperor tetra
- Black neon tetra
- Cardinal tetra
- Flame tetra
- Blue tetra
- Ruby tetra
- Rainbow tetra
- Lemon tetra
- Diamond tetra
- Buenos Aires Tetra
- Penguin tetra
- Glowlight tetra
- Bleeding heart tetra
- Redeye tetra
- Black phantom tetra
- Mexican tetra
- Silvertip tetra
- Columbian tetra
- Bucktooth tetra
- Panda tetra
- X-ray tetra
Conclusion
Now you know a little bit more about the various tetras, so you can choose those that suit you and your aquarium objectives. There are many to choose from, so take your time!