We select an ideal mix of South American tetras that could easily grace your community tank.
Think of a tropical community aquarium and you will more than likely picture one with tetras. As old as the hobby itself, these jewels of South America and West Africa are perfect for aquarium life. They are easy to keep and undemanding.
What’s more, you can keep groups and mix them with other fish to show them off at their best.
We’ve assembled a selection of tetras from South America — most are readily available and few more unusual ones. All of them will mix easily with each other and many other species of fish. Most are ideal for beginners and for smaller aquariums only 60cm (24”) long.
Tetras are easy to feed, accepting a wide range of dry, frozen and live foods. Some will even breed, scattering their eggs among the leaves of plants and mosses.
Ideal set-up
Provide the best conditions for your tetras with a biotope aquarium. A biotope replicates a natural habitat in a particular part of the world. The classic choice for many South American tetras is a soft water river, with soft sand, stained water and plenty of bogwood.
Some habitats contain lush swathes of aquatic plants while others feature no live plants at all. Instead leaf litter covers the substrate in these flooded forest habitats with overhanging trees shading the waters.
Combine one or more groups of the following tetras with some Corydoras catfish and Apistogramma dwarf cichlids. You can even add a shoal of hatchetfish or pencilfish as well. Fill the tank with slightly acidic water and you will have your own slice of the Amazon basin in your living room. Your fish will repay you with better colours, more natural behaviour and may even reproduce.
Whatever your persuasion, there’s a tetra waiting for you…
Related article: Step by step guide for a Brazilian tetra biotope.
Kitty tetra
Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon heliacus
Origin: Teles Pires river in the upper Tapajós basin, Brazil.
Size: 3cm (1.2”)
Tank size: 60x30x30cm (24x12x12”)
Water parameters: pH 6-7.5, temperature 24-28°C (75-82°F).
Notes: These are beautiful little tetras. Males develop the elongate dorsal fin and get better as they mature. They are hard to find though, when shops order kitty tetras they often receive Hyphessobrycon elachys instead.
Ember tetra
Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon amandae
Origin: South America, Araguaia river basin.
Size: 2cm/0.8”
Tank size: 45x25x25cm (18x10x10”)
Water parameters: pH 6-7, temperature 24-28°C (75-82°F)
Notes: Ember tetras are tiny and great for nano tanks. Keep in groups of ten or more and only combine with other tiny fish and invertebrates. You can find specific information about their natural rivers here by reading finding ember tetras in Brazil.
Cardinal tetra
Scientific name: Paracheirodon axelrodi
Origin: Upper Orinoco and Negro river basins
Size: 2.5cm (1”)
Tank size: 60x30x30cm (24x12x12”)
Water parameters: pH 5-7, temperature 24-30°C (75-86°F)
Notes: Needing no introduction, the colours of this fish say it all. Keep in large groups and keep warm to avoid outbreaks of whitespot. An alternative for smaller, or cooler, tanks would be the green neon tetra (P. simulans) although they aren't so vibrant.
Bentosi tetra (or ornate tetra)
Scientific name: Megalamphodus bentosi
Origin: Amazon river basin
Size: 4cm (1.6”)
Tank size: 60x30x30cm (24x12x12”)
Water parameters: pH 6-7.5, temperature 24-28°C (75-82°F)
Notes: A smaller alternative to the bleeding heart tetra. These days it is most commonly encountered in a ‘White Fin’ variant which looks even better.
Emperor tetra
Scientific name: Nematobrycon palmeri
Origin: Atrato and San Juan River basins, South America
Size: 4cm (1.6”)
Tank size: 60x30x30cm (24x12x12”)
Water parameters: pH 6-7, temperature 23-27°C/73-81°F
Notes: A beautiful tetra with a unique look, the emperor oozes quality and prestige. incredibly striking in groups, males get better as they mature.
Black phantom tetra
Scientific name: Megalamphodus megalopterus
Origin: Upper Paraguay and Guaporé river basins, South America
Size: 4cm (1.6”)
Tank size: 60x30x30cm (24x12x12”)
Water parameters: pH 6-7.5, temperature 24-28°C (75-82°F)
Notes: Males darken and develop an elongated dorsal fin as they mature. Best in planted aquariums, they may breed with no special owner care. In the wild they actually appear rather red in colour.
Coffee bean tetra
Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon takasei
Origin: Araguari and Oyapock river basins, South America.
Size: 3cm (1.2”)
Tank size: 60x30x30cm (24x12x12”)
Water parameters: pH 6-7, temperature 24-28°C (75-82°F)
Notes: Relatively rare in the hobby, the name 'coffee bean tetra' is because of the dark mark on its flanks. Treat as for other Hyphessobrycon tetras.
Diamond tetra
Scientific name: Moenkhausia pittieri
Origin: Lake Valencia basin in Venezuela
Size: Males to 6cm (2.4”)
Tank size: 9030x30cm (36x12x12”)
Water parameters: pH 6-7, temperature 24-28°C (75-82°F)
Notes: Diamond tetra males develop flowing fin extensions and wonderful metallic scales. A nervous fish, maintain them in groups to see them at their best. A well-furnished aquarium will help them settle and shine.
Black neon tetra
Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Origin: Paraguay river basin, South America
Size: 3cm (1.2”)
Tank size: 60x30x30cm (24x12x12”)
Water parameters: pH 6-7.5, temperature 23-27°C (73-81°F)
Notes: These look great in numbers in planted aquariums. Adults will be deeper bodied than neon tetras and are therefore less at risk from larger fish like angelfish.
Lemon tetra
Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
Origin: Tapajós river basin, South America
Size: 4cm (1.6”)
Tank size: 60x30x30cm (24x12x12”)
Water parameters: pH 6-7.5, temperature 23-28°C (73-82°F)
Notes: A popular and peaceful species. Their colouration darkens and intensifies in well furnished conditions and as it matures.
Colombian redfin tetra
Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon colombianus
Origin: Acanti river basin, Colombia
Size: 7.5cm (3”)
Tank size: 90x30x30cm (36x12x12”)
Water parameters: pH 6-7, temperature 24-28°C (75-82°F)
Notes: Large and robust, these fish require large tanks. They are suitable tank mates for medium South American cichlids. Lovely blue and red when mature.
Loreto tetra
Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon loretoensis
Origin: Upper Río Amazonas, Peru.
Size: 2.5cm (1”)
Tank size: 60x30x30cm (24x12x12”)
Water parameters: pH 5.5-7.5, temperature 22-26°C (72-79°F)
Notes: They are not as common as they should be in the aquarium trade. A pretty, well behaved tetra and a group would make a great alternative to glowlight or neons tetras.
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