Tetras & characins

159 freshwater aquarium species in the tetras & characins group, including Banded astyanax, Banded leporinus and Barred pencilfish. 71 have a full care profile with tank size, temperature, pH and temperament, compared in the table below.

Tetras & characins care compared

SpeciesAdult sizeMin. tankTemperaturepHTemperamentCare
Banded astyanaxAstyanax fasciatus9 cm (3.5 in)75 L (20 US gal)18–26°C (64–79°F)6.0–7.8PeacefulDifficult
Banded leporinusLeporinus fasciatus25.4 cm (10 in)265 L (70 US gal)23–29°C (73–84°F)5.5–7.5Semi-aggressiveModerate
Barred pencilfishNannostomus espei4 cm (1.6 in)55 L (15 US gal)24–28°C (75–82°F)5.5–7.0Peaceful–
Black morpho tetraPoecilocharax weitzmani4 cm (1.6 in)55 L (15 US gal)24–28°C (75–82°F)5.2–6.5Peaceful–
Black neon tetraHyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi3.2 cm (1.3 in)75 L (20 US gal)23–28°C (73–82°F)5.5–7.5PeacefulEasy
Black phantom tetraHyphessobrycon megalopterus4 cm (1.6 in)75 L (20 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)6.0–7.5PeacefulEasy
Black tetraGymnocorymbus ternetzi6 cm (2.4 in)–20–26°C (68–79°F)6.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Blackline penguinfishThayeria boehlkei3.5 cm (1.4 in)55 L (15 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)6.0–8.0PeacefulModerate
Blackwing hatchetfishCarnegiella marthae3.5 cm (1.4 in)75 L (20 US gal)24–29°C (75–84°F)5.5–7.0PeacefulEasy
Bleeding-heart tetraHyphessobrycon erythrostigma6 cm (2.4 in)75 L (20 US gal)23–28°C (73–82°F)5.6–7.2PeacefulEasy
Bloodfin tetraAphyocharax anisitsi5.5 cm (2.2 in)75 L (20 US gal)18–28°C (64–82°F)6.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Bucktooth tetraExodon paradoxus7.5 cm (3 in)210 L (55 US gal)23–28°C (73–82°F)5.5–7.5Semi-aggressive–
Buenos Aires tetraHyphessobrycon anisitsi8 cm (3.1 in)–17–28°C (63–82°F)5.5–7.0Aggressive–
CachamaColossoma macropomum100 cm (39 in)285 L (75 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)5.0–7.8PeacefulEasy
Cardinal tetraParacheirodon axelrodi4.5 cm (1.8 in)–23–27°C (73–81°F)–PeacefulDifficult
Cochu's blue tetraBoehlkea fredcochui4 cm (1.6 in)115 L (30 US gal)22–26°C (72–79°F)6.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Congo tetraPhenacogrammus interruptus8 cm (3.1 in)210 L (55 US gal)23–26°C (73–79°F)6.0–7.5PeacefulDifficult
Darter characinCharacidium fasciatum6.5 cm (2.6 in)55 L (15 US gal)18–24°C (64–75°F)5.6–7.5Semi-aggressiveEasy
Diamond tetraMoenkhausia pittieri6 cm (2.4 in)115 L (30 US gal)24–28°C (75–82°F)6.0–7.0PeacefulModerate
Disk tetraMyleus schomburgkii40 cm (16 in)400 L (106 US gal)23–27°C (73–81°F)6.0–7.0Peaceful–
Ember tetraHyphessobrycon amandae2 cm (0.8 in)40 L (11 US gal)24–28°C (75–82°F)6.5–7.3PeacefulEasy
Emperor tetraNematobrycon palmeri6 cm (2.4 in)75 L (20 US gal)23–26°C (73–79°F)5.0–8.0Semi-aggressiveModerate
Flag tetraHyphessobrycon heterorhabdus3.4 cm (1.3 in)55 L (15 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)5.5–7.5PeacefulModerate
Flame tetraHyphessobrycon flammeus4.5 cm (1.8 in)55 L (15 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)5.8–7.8PeacefulDifficult
Garnet tetraHemigrammus pulcher5 cm (2 in)55 L (15 US gal)23–27°C (73–81°F)5.0–6.0Peaceful–
Glass bloodfinPrionobrama filigera6 cm (2.4 in)75 L (20 US gal)22–26°C (72–79°F)5.7–7.5Peaceful–
Glass tetraMoenkhausia oligolepis10 cm (3.9 in)150 L (40 US gal)22–25°C (72–77°F)6.0–8.0––
Glowlight tetraHemigrammus erythrozonus5 cm (2 in)40 L (11 US gal)24–28°C (75–82°F)6.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Golden pencilfishNannostomus beckfordi6 cm (2.4 in)75 L (20 US gal)24–26°C (75–79°F)6.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Green neon tetraParacheirodon simulans2.5 cm (1 in)55 L (15 US gal)20–26°C (68–79°F)5.5–6.5Peaceful–
Head-and-taillight tetraHemigrammus ocellifer5 cm (2 in)75 L (20 US gal)22–26°C (72–79°F)6.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Jellybean tetraLepidarchus adonis2 cm (0.8 in)40 L (11 US gal)22–26°C (72–79°F)5.8–6.5Peaceful–
Jewel tetraHyphessobrycon eques5 cm (2 in)55 L (15 US gal)24–28°C (75–82°F)5.5–7.5Semi-aggressiveEasy
Lemon tetraHyphessobrycon pulchripinnis5 cm (2 in)75 L (20 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)5.5–8.0PeacefulEasy
Marbled hatchetfishCarnegiella strigata5 cm (2 in)75 L (20 US gal)24–28°C (75–82°F)5.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Marbled headstanderAbramites hypselonotus13 cm (5.1 in)210 L (55 US gal)23–27°C (73–81°F)6.0–7.5Semi-aggressive–
Neon tetraParacheirodon innesi2.5 cm (1 in)40 L (11 US gal)20–26°C (68–79°F)5.0–7.0PeacefulModerate
Niger tetraArnoldichthys spilopterus9.5 cm (3.7 in)115 L (30 US gal)23–28°C (73–82°F)6.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Oneline pencilfishNannostomus unifasciatus5.5 cm (2.2 in)40 L (11 US gal)24–29°C (75–84°F)5.5–7.0PeacefulEasy
Oneline tetraNannaethiops unitaeniatus6.2 cm (2.4 in)75 L (20 US gal)23–26°C (73–79°F)6.5–7.5PeacefulEasy
Ornate tetraHyphessobrycon bentosi4 cm (1.6 in)55 L (15 US gal)24–28°C (75–82°F)5.5–7.0Semi-aggressive–
PayaraHydrolycus scomberoides117 cm (46 in)475 L (125 US gal)24–28°C (75–82°F)6.0–8.0PeacefulDifficult
Pinktail chalceusChalceus macrolepidotus25.4 cm (10 in)210 L (55 US gal)23–28°C (73–82°F)6.0–7.5AggressiveModerate
Red phantom tetraHyphessobrycon sweglesi4 cm (1.6 in)55 L (15 US gal)22–25°C (72–77°F)5.5–7.5PeacefulEasy
Red piranhaPygocentrus nattereri30 cm (12 in)–24–29°C (75–84°F)–AggressiveDifficult
Redeye tetraMoenkhausia sanctaefilomenae8 cm (3.1 in)55 L (15 US gal)22–25°C (72–77°F)6.0–8.0––
Redflank bloodfinAphyocharax rathbuni2.7 cm (1.1 in)55 L (15 US gal)20–26°C (68–79°F)6.0–7.5Peaceful–
Redhook myleusMyloplus rubripinnis20 cm (7.9 in)285 L (75 US gal)23–27°C (73–81°F)5.0–7.0PeacefulEasy

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