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.
Fish
Easy
Dragonfin Tetra
Pseudocorynopoma doriae
18–25°C
7 cm long
min. 100 L
Fish
Medium
Barred Pencilfish
Nannostomus espei
22–27°C
3.5 cm long
min. 40 L
Fish
Medium
Rainbow Tetra
Nematobrycon lacortei
23–27°C
5 cm long
min. 60 L
Fish
Easy
January Tetra
Hemigrammus hyanuary
23–28°C
4 cm long
min. 60 L
Fish
Medium
Jellybean Tetra
Ladigesia roloffi
23–26°C
3.5 cm long
min. 40 L
Fish
Medium
Swordtail Characin
Corynopoma riisei
22–27°C
6 cm long
min. 80 L
Fish
Medium
Red Hook Silver Dollar
Myloplus rubripinnis
24–28°C
22 cm long
min. 500 L
Fish
Hard
Red-bellied Pacu
Piaractus brachypomus
24–28°C
60 cm long
min. 3000 L
Fish
Medium
Coral Red Pencilfish
Nannostomus mortenthaleri
23–27°C
4 cm long
min. 54 L
Fish
Medium
Marbled Headstander
Abramites hypselonotus
23–27°C
12 cm long
min. 200 L
Fish
Easy
Garnet Tetra
Hemigrammus pulcher
23–27°C
4.5 cm long
min. 60 L
Fish
Medium
False Rummy-nose Tetra
Petitella georgiae
23–27°C
5 cm long
min. 80 L
Fish
Easy
Yellow Tetra
Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus
20–25°C
4.5 cm long
min. 60 L
Fish
Hard
Black-winged Hatchetfish
Carnegiella marthae
24–28°C
3.5 cm long
min. 60 L
Fish
Medium
One-lined Pencilfish
Nannostomus unifasciatus
24–28°C
5 cm long
min. 60 L
Fish
Medium
Gar Characin
Ctenolucius hujeta
24–28°C
22 cm long
min. 300 L
Fish
Medium
Long-finned African Tetra
Brycinus longipinnis
22–27°C
12 cm long
min. 250 L
Fish
Medium
Three-lined Pencilfish
Nannostomus trifasciatus
24–28°C
5 cm long
min. 60 L
Fish
Medium
Ruby Tetra
Axelrodia riesei
22–26°C
2.5 cm long
min. 40 L
Fish
Hard
Sailfin Characin
Crenuchus spilurus
24–28°C
6 cm long
min. 80 L
Fish
Easy
Green Fire Tetra
Aphyocharax rathbuni
22–27°C
4 cm long
min. 60 L