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Tetras and characins

From neons and cardinals to pencilfish, hatchetfish, silver dollars and piranhas: South American and African characins that live in schools.

69 species. Use the filters to narrow it down to the ones that suit your aquarium.

Flame Tetra (Hyphessobrycon flammeus)
Fish Easy

Flame Tetra

Hyphessobrycon flammeus
20–26°C 3.5 cm long min. 54 L
Fish Easy

Glass Tetra

Moenkhausia oligolepis
23–28°C 10 cm long min. 150 L
Golden Pencilfish (Nannostomus beckfordi)
Fish Easy

Golden Pencilfish

Nannostomus beckfordi
22–28°C 4 cm long min. 54 L
Buenos Aires Tetra (Hyphessobrycon anisitsi)
Fish Easy

Buenos Aires Tetra

Hyphessobrycon anisitsi
18–28°C 7 cm long min. 100 L
Hockey Stick Pencilfish (Nannostomus eques)
Fish Medium

Hockey Stick Pencilfish

Nannostomus eques
24–28°C 4.5 cm long min. 60 L
Diamond Tetra (Moenkhausia pittieri)
Fish Easy

Diamond Tetra

Moenkhausia pittieri
24–28°C 6 cm long min. 100 L
Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae)
Fish Easy

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon amandae
23–28°C 2 cm long min. 30 L
Head and Tail Light Tetra (Hemigrammus ocellifer)
Fish Easy

Head and Tail Light Tetra

Hemigrammus ocellifer
22–28°C 4.5 cm long min. 60 L
Silver Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla)
Fish Medium

Silver Hatchetfish

Gasteropelecus sternicla
23–28°C 6 cm long min. 100 L
Silver Dollar (Metynnis argenteus)
Fish Medium

Silver Dollar

Metynnis argenteus
24–28°C 14 cm long min. 300 L
Silvertip Tetra (Hasemania nana)
Fish Easy

Silvertip Tetra

Hasemania nana
22–28°C 5 cm long min. 60 L
Glowlight Tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus)
Fish Easy

Glowlight Tetra

Hemigrammus erythrozonus
23–28°C 4 cm long min. 54 L
Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri)
Fish Easy

Emperor Tetra

Nematobrycon palmeri
23–27°C 5.5 cm long min. 80 L
Bloodfin Tetra (Aphyocharax anisitsi)
Fish Easy

Bloodfin Tetra

Aphyocharax anisitsi
18–28°C 5 cm long min. 60 L
Bleeding Heart Tetra (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma)
Fish Medium

Bleeding Heart Tetra

Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
23–28°C 6 cm long min. 100 L
Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi)
Fish Medium

Cardinal Tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi
23–29°C 4.5 cm long min. 60 L
Rummy-nose Tetra (Hemigrammus rhodostomus)
Fish Medium

Rummy-nose Tetra

Hemigrammus rhodostomus
23–28°C 5 cm long min. 80 L
Red Phantom Tetra (Hyphessobrycon sweglesi)
Fish Easy

Red Phantom Tetra

Hyphessobrycon sweglesi
22–26°C 4 cm long min. 60 L
Red Eye Tetra (Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae)
Fish Easy

Red Eye Tetra

Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae
22–28°C 7 cm long min. 100 L
Red-bellied Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri)
Fish Medium

Red-bellied Piranha

Pygocentrus nattereri
24–28°C 28 cm long min. 400 L
Colombian Tetra (Hyphessobrycon columbianus)
Fish Easy

Colombian Tetra

Hyphessobrycon columbianus
22–27°C 6 cm long min. 100 L
Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptus)
Fish Medium

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus
23–27°C 8.5 cm long min. 150 L
Blind Cave Tetra (Astyanax mexicanus)
Fish Easy

Blind Cave Tetra

Astyanax mexicanus
18–26°C 9 cm long min. 120 L
Royal Tetra (Inpaichthys kerri)
Fish Easy

Royal Tetra

Inpaichthys kerri
24–27°C 4.5 cm long min. 60 L