These are some great starter fish for aquariums that tend to do well in homes and schools. The different types of Tetras can be distinguished by their colors, size, and shape. We will explore what makes each type special!
Tetra is a name that has been applied to many different genera of small-bodied characins from South America, Africa, and Asia. The term was first used by German naturalist Eduard Rüppell in 1838 for the African genus Tetragonopterus, which currently contains roughly 50 species.
Since then the name has been expanded to include other genera such as Dicrossus, from Central and South America, and most recently Hemigrammus, a genus found in tropical South America. The fish known by this common name are native to larger rivers of South America, Africa, and Asia.
They are known for their small size, quickness, and agility. Tetras have laterally compressed bodies, deep dorsal fins set well back on the body, long anal and paired pelvic fins. Their most striking characteristic is the way they use their stiff pectoral fins in a kind of walking motion to maintain steady swimming while feeding on plankton or other tiny organisms.
The Best Types Of Tetras For Freshwater Aquariums
Black Tetra
Each type of Tetra is special in its own way. The Black Tetra is a good choice for saltwater tanks because it can tolerate higher salinity levels. The Black Tetra is also a territorial fish that will not do well with other types of fish that are similar to its coloring. This type of Tetra is bottom-dwelling and does best in schools of six or more, at least three inches apart from one another.
Cardinal Tetra
The Cardinal Tetra tends to be very active and moves around a lot – they are also smaller than the other types and will only get to about 1 inch in size when fully grown. They tend to prefer to stay near the top of the tank where they can find plenty of spots to twinkle with their deep red color. They prefer to live in schools of eight or more and are also best kept at least three inches apart from one another.
Black-Line Tetra
The Black-Line Tetra is a jet-black fish with the exception of two thin lines that run from each side of its body all the way across to its tail fin. This type of Tetra is shy and will hide in the back and dark corners of the tank. It prefers to live alone or with one other type of fish that is similar in size. This species grows to about 2 inches in size, but can be kept at a smaller size by housing them with younger fish.
Glowlight Tetra
The Glowlight Tetra tends to be very active – it tends to be bright red in color and is often found near the top of the water where it can display its colors. It will only get to about 2 inches in size, but should never be kept with other types of fish that are similar in coloring. This type prefers to live amongst schools of eight or more Tetras and should be kept at least three inches apart from each other.
Neon Tetra
The Neon Tetra is a very popular type of fish – they are small and get to just over 1 inch in size, which makes them perfect for family aquariums. They do tend to need schools of six or more, as well as space that is larger than the tank they are kept in. This means that they prefer not to be housed with other types of fish that also have bright colorings as much as possible.
Ryukin
The Ryukin is a great choice for beginners – this type of Tetra can tolerate cool water temperatures, and it grows to a little under three inches in size. They have light horizontal lines across their back that are gray, with a black lateral line from head to tail fin. This type of fish is best kept alone or in twos.
Silver Tetra
The Silver Tetra prefers to stay close to the bottom of the water tank and does not require much swimming space – they will only grow to about 1 inch in size when fully grown. The Silver Tetra is a very shy fish that prefers not to be housed with other types of similarly colored fish, it also prefers a low light environment.
Tigerfish Tetra
The Tigerfish Tetra is fairly common – they are known for being easy to care for and tolerant of water temperature variations. They are larger than most types, growing up to 4 inches in size. The Tigerfish prefers to be kept with other types of Tetra that are similar in color, and not with the same type. These fish are best housed alone or with very small schooling companions.
Topaz Tetra
The Topaz Tetra should only be confined to large aquariums where they will have plenty of room for swimming – they grow up to almost three inches in size. This type of Tetra is best kept alone or with one other similar colored creature, because they will pick on others that are not similar to them in coloring. They do prefer low light levels and demand a tank large enough for adult growth – as well as plenty of water changes.
Zebra Tetra
The Zebra Tetra is one of the most popular types of fish – they have very unique markings that resemble zebra stripes. They grow to about two inches in size, and prefer schools with at least six other Tetras. They are fragile creatures that require plenty of space for swimming as well as a lot of water changes each week.
Red Phantom Tetra
The Red Phantom Tetra is a large fish that grows to about 5 inches in size when fully grown, and tends to be most active at night. This type of Tetra has a red coloration with horizontal striping on its body. It prefers to have an aquarium that is very large as well as plenty of room for swimming – these creatures should not be kept in tanks with same sized or smaller tetras that also have red coloration.
Black Neon Tetra
The Black Neon Tetra has a very unique coloring – they are similar in size to the neon, but their back is greenish with horizontal stripes of black along the lateral line. Their body is completely black from head to tail fin – even the fins are dark in color. They prefer to be kept alone or with one or two others of the same type, as well as an aquarium that is large enough for their full adult growth.
Neon Rainbow Tetra
The Neon Rainbow Tetra has a similar coloring to the regular version – they are bright and vibrant in appearance even though they are small fish that tend to not grow over 2 inches in size. They are very similar to the Red Phantom, and require large tanks with plenty of room for swimming.
Bronze Tetra
The Bronze Tetra is an interesting looking fish that has a light purple coloration along its dorsal region – they have horizontal stripes on their body as well as vertical bars on their sides – these do not develop until they are almost full grown. This type of Tetra should be kept in a school of at least six, and they prefer to have an aquarium that is only slightly larger than their own body size when fully grown.
Black Skirt Tetra
The Black Skirt Tetra has a very distinctive coloring – they are somewhat similar to the zebra fish except with more pronounced striped markings. They grow to about 2 inches in size and prefer an aquarium that is big enough for them to fully grown. These creatures should be kept with other small types of Tetras, but not the same type of Black Skirt Tetra – they will fight or chase each other until one leaves the school.
Severum Rainbow Tetra
The Severum Rainbow Tetra has a great deal of similarities to the regular Rainbow Tetra – they are similar in color and size, but their fins have a reddish-purple instead of pink/red coloring. They prefer to be kept with other small types of fish that have similar colors and schooling habits, but will chase away or fight others if the school is too large compared to the tank size.
Blue Tetra
The Blue Tetra is one of the most beautiful types of fish that you can have in your aquarium – they are similar in coloring to the damsel, but their body is slimmer and much more elongated. They prefer to be kept with other small creatures like themselves, or mid-sized types like Cory Cats – they will chase or fight with others if there are too many in an aquarium that is not large enough.
Peppered Tetra
The Peppered Tetra has a dark blue back and silver/white sides, as well as a black vertical bar on the anterior portion of their body – these fish all look similar until they are almost full grown. They require an aquarium that is at least twice as large as their full grown body length, and should be kept in schools with at least six or more of the same type.
Tetra Care Guide
Tetra Habitat Conditions
- Tetras prefer to live in rivers or the backwaters of large lakes
- Tetras need clean water and a little bit of gravel or other substrate that is not sharp
- They will eat some of their food off – they don’t enjoy being in an environment where they cannot find something to occupy their time, especially if it involves hiding.
- Tetras should be kept in schools with at least six of the same type. Having only one of each sex can lead to fighting and chasing if there is not enough space, or an excess of aggressiveness against other types of fish.
Most Tetras are freshwater fish, and prefer to live in rivers or the backwaters of large lakes. Due to this, most tetra only need clean water and a little bit of gravel or other substrate that is not sharp – they will even eat some of the food off of the bottom if there is an excess amount after feeding time. They tend to hide in the darker depths of the tank until there is food within reach, or danger approaching.
Housing Tetras requires a large aquarium that has enough space for swimming and extra hiding places – Tetras do not enjoy living in an environment where they cannot find something to occupy their time, especially if it involves hiding. They usually only come out to eat or look for danger before retreating into some portion of the tank.
Tetras are usually kept in schools, and females tend to prefer living together with other females, while males can live well with either sex. This means that if you have a male Tetra you will need at least three or more females to keep him happy – or the opposite for a female Tetra.
Having only one of each sex can lead to fighting and chasing if there is not enough space, or an excess of aggressiveness against other types of fish.
Tetra Tank Conditions
- Tetras prefer freshwater tanks
- Tetra water conditions should be maintained at 79 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit with a pH of 6 to 9.
- This does vary depending on the type, so small black tetras or any other smaller black tetras are recommended for beginners.
- Tetras like close proximity to the bottom of the tank, and can usually be seen swimming only at night and when there are no other fish in tank.
This does vary depending on the type of Tetra, so a good choice to start with would be any of the smaller black-colored species. They do not need an excess amount of lighting or strong filtration due to their small size and preference for cooler temperatures – this will actually cause them stress if there is too much bright light or fast current.
Tetras like to stay close to the bottom of the tank, with most of their swimming activity occurring at night or when there are no other fish around. This means that they do not require strong filtration systems that can filter out waste and extra food – regular partial water changes will suffice.
If you choose a smaller species of Tetra, a small HOB (Hang-On-Back) filter will work for water flow as well as provide gentle filtration. You can also use the tank walls themselves to bounce back the light so that your Tetra has a sense of security when there is no other lighting in the tank.
Tetra Socialization
- Tetras need a 4 fish minimum to start school
- Tetras are not a social species
- Tetras can be kept with other types of bottom feeders like Corydoras Catfish, just remember that the bigger tetra will eat the smaller ones
Tetras can live well with any smaller types of fish, but the most popular type of tetra to keep is called a “school” – this consists of about four or more when young and up to ten or more once they reach full size. Tetras like to school with fish that are similar in color and swimming habit – they are not a social type of fish!
They can also be kept with smaller, bottom-feeding fish like Corydoras Catfish or other types of Tetras – just remember that the bigger varieties will eat the smaller ones if there is no tank divider to prevent this from happening.
This fish does best in groups of at least six or more, and will chase away others of the same sex if there is not enough space in the tank. They tend to live better when kept together with different species with similar habits, like bottom feeders or other schooling types.
Tetra Diet & Nutrition
- Tetras are carnivores that eat small animals like mosquito larvae.
- Make sure to feed your tetra with live or frozen food, and don’t forget the occasional “gut loaded” fruit fly or mosquitoes!
Tetras prefer to eat smaller, bottom-feeders as their primary food source – especially mosquito larvae, worms and small insects or crustaceans. This type of fish is definitely a carnivore that requires live foods to remain healthy.
Tetras will eat frozen or freeze dried bloodworms, brine shrimp, tubifex worms and any other types of “feeder” fish food – and don’t forget about the occasional “gut-loaded” fruit fly or mosquito larvae! They will eat almost any type of small animal that moves slowly, but need something to stimulate their appetite occasionally.
Tetra Compatibility
You can mix Tetras with other smaller and bottom-feeding fish, but don’t try to put them with larger species that could eat them for dinner!
Think about some of the more common “dither” fish like a White Cloud Mountain Minnow or a Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish – these are both smaller fish with similar habits as Tetras and are good options for a peaceful tropical tank.
Tetra Disease Prevention
Because Tetras are freshwater fish, they are fairly hardy once they are acclimated to the tank that they are in. They require a clean environment to grow, and do not usually get sick if they have regular access to food and clean water.
Possible diseases that could affect this fish include Cryptocaryoniasis, or parasitic infection of the eye; Fish TB which is almost always caught from infected live foods; and Ichthyopthirius which is a water-borne parasite that causes small white spots to appear on the fish’s body.
Frequent partial water changes will help prevent these diseases from spreading if you notice them in your tank. Addition of a UV light can help ward off Ichthyopthirius as well, but this is usually only necessary for fish that have to be constantly treated with medication – keep in mind that the UV rays can also damage the growth rates of your smaller fish if they go near it.
Tetra does best in a clean, well-filtered aquarium that is only slightly larger than it needs to be – don’t overstock the tank with other small fish for your tetras! Keeping this type of fish in an overcrowded environment will cause stress and possible disease outbreak.
Tetra Breeding
Breeding Tetras has been attempted in both fresh and saltwater conditions. In most cases it requires almost perfect conditions, and even then the eggs will not usually produce any offspring.
Breeding this fish is not a simple task, and probably should not be attempted without the advice of an expert. They are almost always more trouble than they are worth, and unless you plan on raising them there is no reason to breed this type of fish!
Tetra Lifespan
Tetras live about five years or more if they are well fed and cared for properly. This can vary depending on which type you have, but generally speaking they will live up to around 5 years of age.
Tetra Final Thoughts
As you can see, this type of fish has many different requirements than most other types of fish. They are not hard to care for if the tank conditions are right, and they will reward their owners with lots of activity in a small size or “school”.
Choosing one that is similar in size and habits will help to keep the fish happy, and remember that these are social fish that do best when kept in groups of at least three to four.
