Tetra Care Guides
Tetras are small, schooling fish that suit most community tanks. Almost all of them look and behave best in groups of six or more, in a tank with plants, gentle flow and stable water. Differences matter: neons and cardinals like softer, cleaner water, serpae and bucktooth tetras can nip fins, and larger species such as congo tetras need a longer tank.
Quick rules of thumb
- Buy a group, not a single fish.
- Add them to a tank that is fully cycled.
- Check fin-nipping species before mixing with bettas or long-finned fish.
Tetra guides
- Black Phantom TetraHyphessobrycon megalopterus1.75 in · 15+ gal
- Black Skirt TetraGymnocorymbus ternetzi2.5 in · 20+ gal
- Bleeding Heart TetraHyphessobrycon erythrostigma3 in · 30+ gal
- Bloodfin TetraAphyocharax anisitsi2 in · 20+ gal
- Blue TetraBoehlkea fredcochui2 in · 20+ gal
- Bucktooth TetraExodon paradoxus4 in · 40+ gal
- Buenos Aires TetraHyphessobrycon anisitsi2.5 in · 20+ gal
- Cardinal TetraParacheirodon axelrodi2 in · 15+ gal
- Congo TetraPhenacogrammus interruptus3.5 in · 29+ gal
- Diamond TetraMoenkhausia pittieri2.5 in · 20+ gal
- Ember TetraHyphessobrycon amandae0.8 in · 5+ gal
- Emperor TetraNematobrycon palmeri2.5 in · 20+ gal
- Flame TetraHyphessobrycon flammeus1.75 in · 15+ gal
- GloFish TetraGymnocorymbus ternetzi (selectively bred, fluorescent)2.5 in · 20+ gal
- HatchetfishGasteropelecus and Carnegiella species2 in · 20+ gal
- Lemon TetraHyphessobrycon pulchripinnis2 in · 15+ gal
- Neon TetraParacheirodon innesi1.5 in · 10+ gal
- PencilfishNannostomus species2 in · 10+ gal
- Penguin TetraThayeria boehlkei3 in · 20+ gal
- Red Phantom TetraHyphessobrycon sweglesi1.75 in · 15+ gal
- Rummy Nose TetraHemigrammus rhodostomus2 in · 20+ gal
- Serpae TetraHyphessobrycon eques1.75 in · 20+ gal
- Silver Tip TetraHasemania nana2 in · 20+ gal
- X-Ray TetraPristella maxillaris2 in · 15+ gal
Find it at Pet Zone
Pet Zone Tropical Fish is a San Diego aquarium store with two locations. Stock changes daily, so call ahead if you are after a specific species or plant. Shop online at petzonesd.com.
4160 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 987-0309
Open daily, 10am-6pm
Aquascaping, planted tanks
4266 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 283-1812
Closed Monday; Tue-Fri 10:30am-6pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 11am-4pm
Monster fish, koi