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Tetras are one of the most popular and diverse types of freshwater aquariums fish. With over 150 unique species of tetrafish in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, they make a great addition to any aquarium setup, whether you’re a total novice to the hobby or a seasoned expert.
While it would be impossible to cover every species in this list, here are 10 amazing varieties that look incredible and are quite easy to care for if fish as pets. Some of the following tetras are well known, such as the common neon tetra, while others are less common yet just as incredible.
1. Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)
Of course, to kick off this list, I had to start with the wildly popular neon tetra. With its vibrant red, blue, silver and orange colors it’s easy to see why aquarists of all walks of life love this fish. What makes this exotic-looking fish so great (besides its stunning looks) are its easy-care requirements and small size.
Neon tetras can thrive in tanks as small as 15 gallons, as they only grow to about 1.5 to 2 inches in length. They are peaceful and do well with other fish. This includes members of its own genus, as well as other small, non-territorial species, such as guppies, mollies, platys, and more.
If you plan to bring home some neon tetras, plan to keep them in an aquarium with moderately warm water (68F to 82F) and a pH level of 6.0 to 8.0. They usually live 2 to 3 years in optimal conditions.
2. Rainbow Tetra (Nematobrycon lacortei)
The rainbow tetra is another visually stunning fish, making it a popular choice among freshwater aquarium keepers of all experience levels. Their vibrant shades of blue, green, silver and orange make them a joy to watch despite their small size.
While they can live alongside a variety of other small fish, rainbow tetras should be kept away from long-finned fish. This is because they can be semi-aggressive and snap at other small fish with long fins. Aside from this caveat, this species is mostly peaceful.
Rainbow tetras should be housed in warm, freshwater tanks (75F to 80F) with a pH level of 5.0 to 8.0.
3. Bloodfin Tetra (Aphyocharax anisitsi)
It’s easy to see where the bloodfin tetra got its name. Its body is mostly silver, but its dorsal, anal and caudal fins are a striking blood red. These fish are one of the larger tetra species, but they are still quite small with a maximum of only 2 to 3 inches.
Like many tetras, the blood fin can easily thrive in tanks as small as 10 gallons. But bigger is always better, as they are shy, schooling fish that like to live with other members of their species. They can also be housed next to plecos, danios, small corydoras and more.
The blood fin tetra does best in warm water (70F to 80F) with a pH level of 6.0 to 8.0. They are very hardy and enjoy a little shelter from the plant to seek shelter.
4. Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri)
The Emperor Tetra is easily identified by its distinct black horizontal stripe across its silver, orange-hued body. It is a fairly peaceful fish that prefers to live in groups of at least 5 to 10 members of its own species. However, it can also be housed alongside other small, non-territorial fish such as danios, corydoras and dwarf cichlids, among many others.
Like most other tetras, the emperor tetra is small in size and only 2 inches long. This means it can thrive in tanks as small as 10 gallons. Emperor tetras typically live about 5 to 6 years in clean, optimal conditions. They are slow moving and hardy, making them great for aspiring aquarium hobbyists.
Ideally, emperor tetras should be housed in warm water (73F to 80F) with a pH level of 5.0 to 7.8.
5. Buenos Aires Tetra (Hyphessobrycon anisitsi)
The next type of tetra fish on this list, the Buenos Aires tetra is a popular species thanks to its vibrant greenish-silver body and neon-orange fins. In addition, it is small but hardy and plays well with several other tetras and other small, peaceful fish. Compatible species include gouramis, danios, and barbs.
Buenos Aires tetras are striking despite their small size of only 2 to 3 inches, although they are on the larger side of tetra species. They can live for 5 to 6 years in captivity, provided you follow their fairly simple care requirements.
These unique fish should be housed in warm water (64F to 82F) with a pH level of 5.8 to 8.5. This wide range of suitable temperatures and pH levels makes Buenos Aires tetras very easy to maintain.
6. Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon)
Like some of the other species on this list, it’s easy to see where the lemon tetra gets its name from. With its shockingly bright yellow fins and bright orange eyes, this type of tetra is a handsome addition to any freshwater aquarium.
These little tetras are tiny, only about 2 to 3 inches long. Despite how fragile they seem, they are very hardy and easy to care for. Lemon tetras are especially peaceful and docile. They like to live with members of their own species and other small, non-aggressive fish. Compatible species include mollies, guppies, danios, and gouramis.
If yo
u plan to keep some lemon tetras, keep in mind that they prefer warm water (73F to 83F). In addition, the pH level of their aquarium should be between 6.0 and 7.4.
7. Male Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae)
Cinder tetras have a unique appearance due to their bright orange and red color and mild translucency (meaning they appear translucent!). Although they are very small and only about an inch long, you can easily spot this fiery fish from a distance. They can live up to 4 years in captivity, provided you follow their basic care requirements.
Ideal for aquarists of any level of experience, this type of tetra is hardy and peaceful. It likes to live with members of its own species and other small, non-territorial fish. Compatible types include: guppies, danios, little gouramis and tetras such as the neon tetra.
In general, ember tetras prefer warm water (73F to 83F) with a pH level of 6.6 to 7.8.
8. Congo Tetra (Phenacogramm interruptus)
The colorful Congo tetra is one of the larger species at about 2.5 to 3.5 inches in length. Despite their imposing size (at least by tetra standards), they are peaceful and docile. They are not the best choice for beginners. However, with a little experience and research it is quite easy to meet their needs in captivity.
These types of tetrafish are popular with more experienced aquarium hobbyists. This is partly due to their neon silver, blue and orange color. In addition, they should be housed alongside at least 6 to 10 members of their own species. Other compatible species include corydoras, other tetras, mollies, and danios.
Ideally, you should house your Congo tetras in warm water (73F to 83F) with a pH level of 6.0 to 7.5.
9. Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi)
Black neon tetras resemble typical neon tetras in appearance. However, instead of bright blue and green, they are usually silver and black. They may also have small splashes of orange around their eyes. This type of tetrafish is a popular choice among hobbyists due to its small size of only 1.5 to 2 inches and its hardy, docile nature.
Like many tetras, black neon tetras can thrive in small aquariums as small as 15 to 20 gallons. They do best when kept in groups of at least six. In addition, they do well with other small, peaceful species, such as other tetras, gouramis and danios.
In general, the black neon tetra requires warm water conditions (73F to 81F) with a pH level of 5.5 to 7.5.
10. Ruby Tetra (Axelrodia riesei)
Finally, we come to the end of our list of the striking ruby tetra. With its bright red color, despite its small size, you can easily observe it from a distance. Although only growing to about 1.5 to 2 inches tall, the ruby tetra will be one of the focal points of your aquarium if you choose to house them.
These docile fish are fragile but easy to care for, similar to many other tetrafish species. Incredibly, they can live up to 10 years in captivity! However, you should keep them away from large or aggressive fish as they are easy targets. Compatible species include other small tetras, corydoras catfish, and dwarf cichlids.
Ideally, you should house ruby tetras in warm water (68F to 80F) with a pH level of 4.5 to 6.5.
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