Eric is an aquarium enthusiast with over two decades of experience caring for
a wide array of tropical fish.
Neon Tetras are among the most popular tetras for a freshwater aquarium.
Corpse89 / CC BY-SA / via Wikimedia Commons
Tetra is an overarching term applied to a wide range of tropical fish. They
are typically small, schooling fish that come from South America, Central
America, and Africa. Tetras are among the most popular fish in the aquarium
trade because of their beautiful, vibrant colors and peaceful nature.
Whether you are a beginner trying to find the best tetras for your 10-gallon
tank or an experienced aquarist looking for unique and exotic schooling fish,
you’ll want at least one school of tetras in your aquarium. There are many
species to choose from, some more common than others. In this article, you
will read about ten of my favorite tetras.
Even though the tetras listed here are peaceful community fish, I still
recommend doing due diligence and thoroughly researching them before you bring
them home. Be sure they are an appropriate fit for your tank, and that they
will get along with other fish you already own.
This article will get you started with some basic info on 10 of the best
tetras for a community aquarium.
1. Neon Tetra
Neon tetras are widely available and very popular with fishkeepers of all
ability levels. Because they are so small, reaching an adult length of only
about one and a half inches, they are a great fish for beginners with small
10-gallon tanks.
They thrive in big tanks, too. I always say this, but in my opinion, there are
few sights more attractive in the aquarium world than a large, heavily planted
tank with a big school of neons.
Adult Size
1-1.5 inches
Temperament
Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size
10 gallons
Cardinal Tetra
Artūrs Grebstelis, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
2. Cardinal Tetra
The cardinal tetra is a popular relative of the neon. Cardinals tend to be
slightly larger than neons. Another way to tell the difference is that their
bright red stripe extends the full length of their body.
In addition to cardinals, there are also green neons and black neons, two
similar fish you might consider for tanks 20 gallons or bigger.
Adult Size
2 inches
Temperament
Peaceful
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Minimum Tank Size
20 gallons
Black-skirt Tetra
By Fernandograu [CC BY-SA 3 or GFDL], from Wikimedia Commons
3. Black-skirt Tetra
Black-skirt tetras are a great addition to tanks with larger fish who might
pose a danger to smaller tetras such as neons. With their sharp silver, black,
and, white coloring, they really stand out when they school together.
Though they are generally docile, be aware that these guys can get a little
nippy, and their long fins mean they are susceptible to getting nipped.
Adult Size
2 inches
Temperament
Peaceful, sometimes nippy
Minimum Tank Size
20 gallons
4. White-skirt Tetra
White-skirt tetras are another tetra you will commonly find in the aquarium
trade. They are a genetic variation of the black skirt, and their care needs
are the same.
Both black and white-skirt tetras will often disperse throughout the tank
rather than group together like many tetras, only schooling closely when they
perceive danger.
Adult Size
2 inches
Temperament
Peaceful, sometimes nippy
Minimum Tank Size
20 gallons
Bleeding Heart Tetra (Female)
Citron / CC BY-SA / Wikimedia Commons
5. Bleeding Heart Tetra
Here is another slightly larger tetra you might prefer for tanks with bigger
fish in them. Bleeding hearts have a vibrant red spot on their side, which is
more prominent on the male than the female.
These fish are a good example of why we keep our schooling fish in groups of
five or more, as they can nip fins when kept alone.
Adult Size
2-3 inches
Temperament
Peaceful, can be nippy
Minimum Tank Size
20 Gallon
Lemon Tetra
Waugsberg, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
6. Lemon Tetra
The lemon tetra is a colorful little fish with sharp black-and-yellow fins.
Their bodies are yellow in color as well, and with proper care and feeding can
be quite brilliant.
In fact, many fish keepers report that attention to diet, stress levels, and
tank conditions play a major role in the vibrancy of these little fish.
Adult Size
2 inches
Temperament
Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size
20 gallons
Rummy-nose Tetra
Bernat Arlandis, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
7. Rummy-nose Tetra
The rummy-nose tetra has unique coloring patterns that make it a favorite
tetra in the aquarium world. It has a silver body with a black-and-white
striped tail and of course that bright red nose.
Rummys are such cool little fish. This is another species I like to see in
large schools. They really pop in a planted tank.
Adult Size
2 inches
Temperament
Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size
20 gallons
Congo Tetra
7TP (Krzysztof Bartosik), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
8. Congo Tetra
The Congo tetra is one of the largest tetras in this article, though still
fairly small compared to many aquarium fish. And, unlike the other fish
mentioned here so far, this one hails from Africa.
While they aren’t really appropriate for an Amazon River biotope tank, you can
sneak them in if you want to. They are peaceful, and like other tetras in this
article will get along in a community setting.
Adult Size
3-4 inches
Temperament
Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size
20 gallons
Emperor Tetra
Citron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
9. Emperor Tetra
Despite its name, the emperor tetra is not especially large, reaching an adult
size of about 2 inches. It is a gorgeous fish, with a dark stripe running
lengthwise and an iridescent, reflective body.
Males are especially colorful, and this is one way to tell the difference
between the sexes.
Adult Size
2-3 inches
Temperament
Peaceful; may get nippy
Minimum Tank Size
20 gallons
Diamond Tetra
Michael Palmer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
10. Diamond Tetra
One look at the diamond tetra and it is easy to see how it got its name. With
its shiny scales, it will shimmer in your tank.
If you love the look of large fish like the bala shark or silver dollar but
have enough sense not to try to stock them, this might be the best tetra for
you.
Adult Size
2.5 inches
Temperament
Peaceful may get nippy
Minimum Tank Size
20 gallon
Tetra Fish FAQ
Here are some questions and answers about keeping tetras in your freshwater
aquarium.
How many tetras should be kept together?
Most tetras are schooling fish, which means you will want to keep at least
five of them. Of course, this means you will need to choose fish wisely to
make sure you have enough room in your tank.
Are tetra fish easy to care for?
Generally, tetras are easy to care for. However, they are susceptible to poor
tank conditions, so you want to be sure you keep up with your aquarium
maintenance program.
Do tetra fish need a heater?
Most tetras come from South America or Africa, and they are tropical fish.
That means they need consistent temperatures around 78 degrees, and you will
need a heater. Be sure to research the specific fish you are interested in so
you know their exact requirements.
Do tetra fish get lonely?
While it is debatable whether fish get lonely or not because most tetras are
schooling fish they do prefer to live with others of their kind. Stock at
least five to keep their stress levels low, but know that you can have a much
larger school as well.
How many tetras can be put in a 10-gallon tank?
It depends on their size and what else lives in the tank. I would stock small
tetras like neons in a 10-gallon. If there are no other fish, there can be as
many as 8-10.
How to Care for Tetras
Keep these general points in mind before you decide to stock tetras in your
freshwater aquarium:
- Tetras are schooling fish. That means you’ll want to keep them in groups of at least five, preferably six or more. In the wild, living in large groups helps these tiny fish feel more secure. Hopefully, you won’t have any predators in your tank for them to worry about, but they don’t know this. Make sure you stock them in appropriate numbers so they can live as stress-free as possible.
- Tetras can get nippy. Therefore it is so important to research the fish you intend to stock before you bring them home. Some tetras, such as black-skirts, tend to nip fins. You will want to avoid stocking them with long-finned fish they may decide to harass. Even otherwise peaceful fish like neons can get cranky when tank conditions aren’t ideal.
- Monitor your water parameters. Poor water conditions have a big impact on little fish like tetras. Not only with their health suffer because of pollution in the tank, but they can become anxious and exhibit behaviors such as glass surfing. Bad tank conditions also increase the chances of peaceful fish becoming ornery and lashing out at their tank mates. You will need to keep up with water changes and other tank maintenance.
- Do not overstock your tank. Because they are tiny schooling fish, you can get away with stocking greater numbers of tetras than most species. However, you still need to be careful not to overstock your tank. Not only with they feel overcrowded in an overstocked tank, but you’ll find the tank is much harder to care for
Schooling fish like tetras are some of the most enjoyable fish you can keep in
your freshwater tropical aquarium. They are a peaceful, beautiful addition to
your tank that adds wonderful splashes of color. In fact, you may wish to
build a tetra-only tank with large schools of vibrant fish.
It’s up to you! Good luck with your tetras!
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It
is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription,
or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional.
Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a
veterinarian immediately.