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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.

Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis)
Fish Easy

Lemon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
22–28°C 4.5 cm long min. 60 L
Marbled Hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata)
Fish Medium

Marbled Hatchetfish

Carnegiella strigata
24–28°C 3.5 cm long min. 60 L
Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)
Fish Easy

Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon innesi
20–26°C 3.5 cm long min. 54 L
Rosy Tetra (Hyphessobrycon bentosi)
Fish Medium

Rosy Tetra

Hyphessobrycon bentosi
24–28°C 4.5 cm long min. 60 L
Penguin Tetra (Thayeria boehlkei)
Fish Easy

Penguin Tetra

Thayeria boehlkei
22–28°C 6 cm long min. 80 L
Pristella Tetra (Pristella maxillaris)
Fish Easy

Pristella Tetra

Pristella maxillaris
22–28°C 4.5 cm long min. 60 L
Serpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques)
Fish Easy

Serpae Tetra

Hyphessobrycon eques
22–27°C 4 cm long min. 60 L
Splash Tetra (Copella arnoldi)
Fish Medium

Splash Tetra

Copella arnoldi
24–28°C 6 cm long min. 60 L
Black Phantom Tetra (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus)
Fish Easy

Black Phantom Tetra

Hyphessobrycon megalopterus
22–28°C 4.5 cm long min. 60 L
Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi)
Fish Easy

Black Neon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
22–27°C 4 cm long min. 60 L
Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi)
Fish Easy

Black Skirt Tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
20–26°C 5.5 cm long min. 60 L
Green Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon simulans)
Fish Medium

Green Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon simulans
24–28°C 2.5 cm long min. 40 L
Fish Medium

African Red-eyed Tetra

Arnoldichthys spilopterus
23–28°C 9 cm long min. 200 L
Fish Easy

Gold Tetra

Hemigrammus rodwayi
24–28°C 5 cm long min. 60 L
Fish Medium

Banded Leporinus

Leporinus fasciatus
23–27°C 25 cm long min. 500 L
Fish Medium

Flag Tetra

Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus
23–28°C 4.5 cm long min. 60 L
Fish Medium

Spotted Headstander

Chilodus punctatus
24–28°C 9 cm long min. 120 L
Fish Medium

Spotfin Hatchetfish

Thoracocharax stellatus
23–28°C 6.5 cm long min. 120 L
Fish Medium

Firehead Tetra

Hemigrammus bleheri
24–28°C 5 cm long min. 80 L
Fish Medium

Bucktooth Tetra

Exodon paradoxus
23–28°C 12 cm long min. 250 L
Fish Easy

Glass Bloodfin

Prionobrama filigera
22–28°C 6 cm long min. 100 L
Fish Medium

Cochu's Blue Tetra

Boehlkea fredcochui
23–27°C 5 cm long min. 80 L
Fish Medium

Dwarf Pencilfish

Nannostomus marginatus
24–28°C 3.5 cm long min. 40 L
Fish Medium

Striped Headstander

Anostomus anostomus
23–28°C 15 cm long min. 250 L