Tetra are
speciesIn biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of small
freshwater fishFreshwater fish are fish that spend some or all of their lives in freshwater, such as rivers and lakes, with a salinity of less than 0.05%. These environments differ from marine conditions in many ways, the most obvious being the difference in levels of salinity...
from
AfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
,
Central AmericaCentral America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and
South AmericaSouth America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
belonging to the
biological familyIn biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
CharacidaeThe Characidae, characids or characins are a family of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish, belonging to the order Characiformes. The name "characins" is the historical one, but scientists today tend to prefer "characids" to reflect their status as a by and large monophyletic group at family...
and to its former subfamilies
AlestiidaeAfrican tetras are a group of Characiformes fish exclusively found in Africa. This family contains about 18 genera and 110 species....
(the "African tetras") and
LebiasinidaeThe Lebiasinidae , are a family of freshwater fishes found in Costa Rica, Panama, and South America. They are usually small and are known as ornamental fishes in aquaria, including popular fishes such as the pencil fish and splashing tetra.Lebiasinids are small, cylindrical fish, ranging from to ...
. The Characidae are distinguished from other fish by the presence of a small adipose fin between the
dorsal finA dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
and caudal fin. Many of these, such as the
neon tetraThe neon tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to blackwater or clearwater streams in southeastern Colombia, eastern Peru, and western Brazil, including the tributaries of the Solimões where the water is between...
(Paracheirodon innesi), are brightly colored and easy to keep in captivity. Consequently, they are extremely popular for home
aquariaAn aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
.
The term tetra is not actually a
taxonomicTaxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
, phylogenetic term. Because of the popularity of tetras in the
fishkeepingFishkeeping is a popular hobby concerned with keeping fish in a home aquarium or garden pond. There is also a fishkeeping industry, as a branch of agriculture.-Types of fishkeeping systems:...
hobbyA hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
, many unrelated fish are commonly known as tetras, including species from differing families. Even fish that are vastly different may be called tetras. For example,
payaraThe Payara, Hydrolycus scomberoides, also known as "Dog Tooth Characin", "Vampire Fish", "Cachorra" or "Chambira" is a little-known species of gamefish that lives in the Orinoco River in Venezuela and in the Amazon basin. The payara's most noticeable features are the two long fangs protruding...
(Hydrolycus scomberoides) is occasionally known as the "
sabretooth tetraThe Payara, Hydrolycus scomberoides, also known as "Dog Tooth Characin", "Vampire Fish", "Cachorra" or "Chambira" is a little-known species of gamefish that lives in the Orinoco River in Venezuela and in the Amazon basin. The payara's most noticeable features are the two long fangs protruding...
" or "vampire tetra".
Tetras generally have compressed (sometimes deep),
fusiformFusiform means having a spindle-like shape that is wide in the middle and tapers at both ends.* Aneurysms can be classified as saccular or fusiform...
bodies and are typically identifiable by their fins. They ordinarily possess a homocercal caudal fin (a twin-lobbed, or forked, tail fin whose upper and lower lobes are of equal size) and a tall dorsal fin characterized by a short connection to the fish’s body. Additionally, tetras possess a long anal fin stretching from a position just posterior of the dorsal fin and ending on the ventral caudal peduncle, and a small, fleshy adipose fin located dorsally between the dorsal and caudal fin. This adipose fin represents the fourth unpaired fin on the fish (the four unpaired fins include the caudal fin, dorsal fin, anal fin, and adipose fin), lending to the name tetra, which is Greek for four. While this adipose fin is generally considered the distinguishing feature, tetras (such as the emperor tetras,
Nematobrycon palmeriThe Emperor tetra is found the streams and rivers of western Colombia including the Rio Atrata and the Rio San Juan.- In the aquarium :...
) lack this appendage. Ichthyologists debate the function of the adipose fin, doubting its role in swimming due to its small size and lack of stiffening rays or spines.
Although the list below is sorted by common name, in a number of cases the common name is applied to different species. Since the aquarium trade may use a different name for the same species, advanced
aquaristFishkeeping is a popular hobby concerned with keeping fish in a home aquarium or garden pond. There is also a fishkeeping industry, as a branch of agriculture.-Types of fishkeeping systems:...
s tend to use scientific names for the less-common tetras. The list below is incomplete.
Tetra species:
A–D
- Adonis tetra
Adonis Tetra =The Adonis tetra, Lepidarchus adonis, is also known as the Jellybean tetra. It is a very small African fish of the family Alestidae.- Range :Lepidarchus adonis is native to the western coast of Africa...
, Lepidarchus adonis
- African long-finned tetra
- Common Names :Some of the common names used for Brycinus longipinnis are “African Longfin Tetra”, “African Tetra”, “African Tetras”, “Long Finned Characin”, “African Longfin”, and “Silversides”....
, Brycinus longipinnis
- African moon tetra, Bathyaethiops caudomaculatus
- Arnold's tetra, Arnoldichthys spilopterus
- banded tetra, Astyanax fasciatus
- bandtail tetra, Moenkhausia dichroura
- barred glass tetra, Phenagoniates macrolepis
- beacon tetra, Hemigrammus ocellifer
- Belgian flag tetra
Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus, the Belgian flag tetra or flag tetra, is a species of characid fish from Brazil.-Description:This fish “has an elongate and laterally compressed body” and is “attractive…with red colored eyes and a lateral stripe composed of black, red, and yellow lines” similar to the...
, Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus
- black darter tetra, Poecilocharax weitzmani
- black morpho tetra, Poecilocharax weitzmani
- black neon tetra
The black neon tetra is a freshwater fish of the characinfamily oforder Characiformes. It is native to theParaguay basin of southern Brazil....
, Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
- black phantom tetra
The black phantom tetra is a freshwater fish of the characinfamily oforder Characiformes...
, Hyphessobrycon megalopterus
- black tetra
The black tetra also known as the black skirt tetra, high-fin black skirt tetra or black widow tetra is a freshwater fish...
, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
- black tetra, Gymnocorymbus thayer
- black wedge tetra, Hemigrammus pulcher
- blackband tetra, Hyphessobrycon scholzei
- blackedge tetra, Tyttocharax madeirae
- black-flag tetra, Hyphessobrycon rosaceus
- black-jacket tetra, Moenkhausia takasei
- blackline tetra, Hyphessobrycon scholzei
- bleeding heart tetra, Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
Bleeding Heart Tetra, Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma is a peaceful mid-dwelling community fish in the aquarium. Grows to the size of 64mm and lives about 5 years. It requires warm water . This fish, like most tetras, needs soft, acid water, pH 6.5-6.8, with plenty of plants.- General :This fish...
- bleeding heart tetra, Hyphessobrycon socolofi
- blind tetra, Stygichthys typhlops
- bloodfin tetra
The bloodfin tetra is a type of tropical fish. The bloodfin is a comparatively large tetra, growing to 5.5 cm. Its notable feature is the blood red colouration at the tail, dorsal, anal and adipose fin....
, Aphyocharax alburnus
- bloodfin tetra
The bloodfin tetra is a type of tropical fish. The bloodfin is a comparatively large tetra, growing to 5.5 cm. Its notable feature is the blood red colouration at the tail, dorsal, anal and adipose fin....
, Aphyocharax anisitsi
- blue tetra, Boehlkea fredcochui
- blue tetra, Mimagoniates microlepis
Mimagoniates microlepis, also known as the Blue Tetra , the Croaking Tetra , the Small-Scaled Tetra, is a species of tetra in the genus Mimagoniates...
- blue tetra, Tyttocharax madeirae
- brass tetra, Hemigrammus rodwayi
- brilliant rummynose tetra, Hemigrammus bleheri
- bucktooth tetra
The bucktooth tetra is the only member of the genus Exodon and is a freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. It is native to South America...
, Exodon paradoxus
- Buenos Aires tetra
The Buenos Aires Tetra is a hardy and boisterous community tropical fish which was discovered in South America. It is best kept in shoals.-Description:...
, Hyphessobrycon anisitsi
- butterfly tetra, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
- Callistus tetra, Hyphessobrycon eques
- calypso tetra, Hyphessobrycon axelrodi
- cardinal tetra
The cardinal tetra, Paracheirodon axelrodi, is a freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. It is native to the upper Orinoco and Negro Rivers in South America....
, Paracheirodon axelrodi
- Carlana tetra, Carlana eigenmanni
- Cochu's blue tetra
The Cochu's blue tetra or blue tetra, Boehlkea fredcochui, is a species of characin. Its natural range is in the Amazon Basin. It is commonly kept as an aquarium fish.-Aquarium Care:* Maximum length: 5.5 cm* Colors: Blue, pink...
, Knodus borki
- central tetra, Astyanax aeneus
- coffee-bean tetra, Hyphessobrycon takasei
- Colcibolca tetra, Astyanax nasutus
- Congo tetra
Described by Boulenger in 1899, the Congo Tetra is found in the upper Congo Basin in slightly acidic, murky waters similar to those that tetras from South America inhabit.- Aquarium Keeping :...
, Phenacogrammus interruptus
- copper tetra, Hasemania melanura
- Costello tetra
The Costello Tetra is a fish from the Amazon basin and is found in Brazil and Peru. The specific name comes from Lake Hyanuary in Brazil.Other common names used in English are January tetra and green neon...
, Hemigrammus hyanuary
- creek tetra, Bryconamericus scleroparius
- creek tetra, Bryconamericus terrabensis
- croaking tetra, Mimagoniates inequalis
Mimagoniates inequalis, known as the Croaking Tetra , is a species of tetra in the genus Mimagoniates. It was previously classified as Glandulocauda inequalis...
- croaking tetra, Mimagoniates lateralis
Mimagoniates lateralis is a species of tetra in the genus Mimagoniates. Its common names includeCroaking Tetra ....
- dawn tetra
The Dawn Tetra is also called the Paragual Tetra. It comes from the River Paraguay in Paraguay and Brazil.As well as living in the main Paraguay River, this fish also inhabits the streams of the Paraguay River basin.- Nutrition :...
, Aphyocharax paraguayensis
- dawn tetra, Hyphessobrycon eos
- diamond tetra, Moenkhausia pittieri
- discus tetra, Brachychalcinus orbicularis
- disk tetra
- In the aquarium :In an aquarium the disk tetra grows to 40 cm. It prefers a pH of 5.0 to 7.0 and a temperature of 23°C to 27°C. They are related to pacus and piranhas. They primarily eat fruits, small fish, crustaceans, clams and snails...
, Myleus schomburgkii
- dragonfin tetra, Pseudocorynopoma doriae
E–Q
- ember tetra
The ember tetra is a freshwater fish of the characinfamily oforder Characiformes. It is native to the Araguaia River basin of Brazil and was discovered around fifteen years ago and named in honor of the fish explorer Heiko Bleher's mother .This species is of typical tetra shape but grows to a...
, Hyphessobrycon amandae
- emperor tetra, Nematobrycon palmeri
- false black tetra, Gymnocorymbus thayeri
- false neon tetra, Paracheirodon simulans
- false red nose tetra, Petitella georgiae
- false rummynose tetra, Petitella georgiae
- featherfin tetra, Hemigrammus unilineatus
- firehead tetra, Hemigrammus bleheri
- flag tetra, Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus
- flame tail tetra
The flame tail tetra, Aphyocharax erythrurus, is a species of tetra - a small freshwater fish.-Appearance:The flametail tetra has a grey/silver body, a prominent red tail, and yellow eyes. Its is native to Venezuela....
, Aphyocharax erythrurus
- flame tetra
The Flame Tetra , also known as the Red Tetra or Tetra of Rio, is a small freshwater fish of the characin family Characidae of order Characiformes. The species was first introduced as aquarium fish in 1920 by C. Bruening, Hamburg, Germany, and formally described in 1924 by Dr. George S. Myers.Cuba...
, Hyphessobrycon flammeus
- garnet tetra, Hemigrammus pulcher
- glass tetra, Moenkhausia oligolepis
- glass bloodfin tetra
The Glass bloodfin tetra, Prionobrama filigera, is a species of Characid fish native to the Amazon River basin of South America.- Nutrition :In the wild this fish eats mainly aquatic insect larvae and crustaceans....
, Prionobrama filigera
- glossy tetra, Moenkhausia oligolepis
- glowlight tetra, Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Hemigrammus erythrozonus, also known as the glowlight tetra, is a small tropical fish found in the wild in the Essequibo River, Guyana, South America. It is silver in colour and a bright iridescent orange to red stripe extends from the snout to the base of its tail. The front part of the dorsal...
- gold tetra
The gold tetra is a species of small freshwater fish in the family Characidae native to lowland South America, where they are abundant in coastal floodplains. Their name comes from a powdery golden tint on their body that is thought to be caused by internal parasites.- In the Aquarium :Gold tetras...
, Hemigrammus rodwayi
- golden tetra, Hemigrammus rodwayi
- goldencrown tetra, Aphyocharax alburnus
- goldspotted tetra, Hyphessobrycon griemi
- gold-tailed tetra, Carlastyanax aurocaudatus
- green dwarf tetra, Odontocharacidium aphanes
- green neon tetra
The green neon tetra is a freshwaterfish of the characin family of order Characiformes. It is native to the upper Orinoco and Negro Rivers in South America....
, Paracheirodon simulans
- green tetra, Paracheirodon simulans
- Griem's tetra, Hyphessobrycon griemi
- Head & Taillight tetra
The Head & Tail Light Tetra is a South American freshwater fish. Also known by the binomial synonyms Hemibrycon ocellifer and Tetragonopterus ocellifer it is found in the rivers of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and the Amazon Basin of Brazil and Peru.Most specimens offered for sale in the...
, Hemigrammus ocellifer
- Hy511 tetra, Hyphessobrycon sp.
- January tetra
The Costello Tetra is a fish from the Amazon basin and is found in Brazil and Peru. The specific name comes from Lake Hyanuary in Brazil.Other common names used in English are January tetra and green neon...
, Hemigrammus hyanuary
- Jellybean tetra
Adonis Tetra =The Adonis tetra, Lepidarchus adonis, is also known as the Jellybean tetra. It is a very small African fish of the family Alestidae.- Range :Lepidarchus adonis is native to the western coast of Africa...
, Lepidarchus adonis
- jewel tetra, Hyphessobrycon eques
- jumping tetra, Hemibrycon tridens
- largespot tetra, Astyanax orthodus
- lemon tetra
The lemon tetra, Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis, is a species of tropical freshwater fish which originates from South America, belonging to the family Characidae. It is a small tetra growing to 5 cm in length...
, Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
- longfin tetra, Brycinus longipinnis
- long-finned glass tetra, Xenagoniates bondi
- longjaw tetra, Bramocharax bransfordii
- Loreto tetra, Hyphessobrycon loretoensis
- Mayan tetra, Hyphessobrycon compressus
- Mexican tetra
The Mexican tetra or Blind Cave Fish is a freshwater fishof the characin family oforder Characiformes....
, Astyanax mexicanus
- mimic scale-eating tetra, Probolodus heterostomus
- mourning tetra, Brycon pesu
- naked tetra, Gymnocharacinus bergii
- neon tetra
The neon tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to blackwater or clearwater streams in southeastern Colombia, eastern Peru, and western Brazil, including the tributaries of the Solimões where the water is between...
, Paracheirodon innesi
- Niger tetra, Arnoldichthys spilopterus
- nurse tetra, Brycinus nurse
- oneline tetra, Nannaethiops unitaeniatus
- one-line tetra, Hemigrammus unilineatus
- orangefin tetra, Bryconops affinis
- ornate tetra, Hyphessobrycon bentosi
- Panama tetra, Hyphessobrycon panamensis
- penguin tetra, Thayeria boehlkei
- Peruvian tetra, Hyphessobrycon peruvianus
- petticoat tetra, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
- phantom tetra, Hyphessobrycon megalopterus
- Pittier's tetra, Moenkhausia pittieri
- pretty tetra, Hemigrammus pulcher
- Pristella tetra, Pristella maxillaris
Pristella maxillaris is the only species in the genus Pristella and is commonly known as the golden pristella tetra or X-ray tetra because of its highly transparent body. It is a widely distributed and adaptable fish, being found in coastal rivers of Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Venezuela in...
- Pygmy tetra, Odontostilbe dialeptura
R–Z
- rainbow tetra, Nematobrycon lacortei
- rainbow tetra, Nematobrycon palmeri
- red eye tetra
The red eye tetra , also known as the yellow-banded moenkhausia, the yellow back moenkhausia and the yellowhead tetra is a species of tetra...
, Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae
- Red Phantom Tetra, Hyphessobrycon sweglesi
- red tetra, Hyphessobrycon flammeus
- redspotted tetra, Copeina guttata
- rosy tetra, Hyphessobrycon bentosi
- rosy tetra
The Rosy tetra comes from the South American countries of Guyana and Brazil.- Water Conditions :The Rosy tetra is a tropical fish and a temperature of between 24 and 28 degrees C is suitable...
, Hyphessobrycon rosaceusThe Rosy tetra comes from the South American countries of Guyana and Brazil.- Water Conditions :The Rosy tetra is a tropical fish and a temperature of between 24 and 28 degrees C is suitable...
- royal tetra, Inpaichthys kerri
- ruby tetra
Ruby tetra is a species in the taxon characidae.It is a fresh water fish, found in Río Meta, Colombia, South America.In nature it has a natural red colour, but this is somewhat lessened in captivity.Ruby tetra grow up to 4 cm long.-External links :...
, Axelrodia riesei
- rummy-nose tetra
The rummy-nose tetra, Hemigrammus rhodostomus, is a species of tropical freshwater characin fish originating from South America, popular among fishkeepers as an aquarium fish. One of many small tetras belonging to the same Genus, it is a 5 cm long fish when fully grown, and is a long...
, Hemigrammus rhodostomus (bleheri)
- sailfin tetra, Crenuchus spilurus
- savage tetra, Hyphessobrycon savagei
- savanna tetra, Hyphessobrycon stegemanni
- semaphore tetra, Pterobrycon myrnae
- serpae tetra
Serpae tetras are one species of the genus Hyphessobrycon, now known as Hyphessobrycon eques. These South American tropical characids are popular aquarium fishes, often identified as "Red Minor tetras"...
, Hyphessobrycon eques
- sharptooth tetra, Micralestes acutidens
- silver tetra, Ctenobrycon spilurus
- silver tetra, Gymnocorymbus thayeri
- silver tetra, Micralestes acutidens
- silvertip tetra
Silvertip tetra are freshwater tetra fish native to blackwater rivers in Brazil. Silver Tip Tetras are slightly more aggressive than other comparative smaller Tetras, observed to occasionally nip other similarly sized Tetras....
, Hasemania melanura
- silvertip tetra
Silvertip tetra are freshwater tetra fish native to blackwater rivers in Brazil. Silver Tip Tetras are slightly more aggressive than other comparative smaller Tetras, observed to occasionally nip other similarly sized Tetras....
, Hasemania nana
- splash tetra, Copella arnoldi
- spotfin tetra, Hyphessobrycon socolofi
- spottail tetra, Moenkhausia dichroura
- spotted tetra, Copella nattereri
- Swegles's tetra, Hyphessobrycon sweglesi
- tailspot tetra, Bryconops caudomaculatus
- tetra von Rio
The Flame Tetra , also known as the Red Tetra or Tetra of Rio, is a small freshwater fish of the characin family Characidae of order Characiformes. The species was first introduced as aquarium fish in 1920 by C. Bruening, Hamburg, Germany, and formally described in 1924 by Dr. George S. Myers.Cuba...
, Hyphessobrycon flammeus
- three-lined African tetra, Neolebias trilineatus
- Tietê tetra, Brycon insignis
- Tortuguero tetra, Hyphessobrycon tortuguerae
- transparent tetra, Charax gibbosus
- true big-scale tetra, Brycinus macrolepidotus
- Uruguay tetra, Cheirodon interruptus
- white spot tetra, Aphyocharax paraguayensis
- x-ray tetra, Pristella maxillaris
Pristella maxillaris is the only species in the genus Pristella and is commonly known as the golden pristella tetra or X-ray tetra because of its highly transparent body. It is a widely distributed and adaptable fish, being found in coastal rivers of Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Venezuela in...
- yellow tetra, Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus
- yellow-tailed African tetra
The Yellow-tailed African tetra comes from the Congo River basin. It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There is an unconfirmed report that it is also in the Republic of the Congo.-Nutrition:The Yellow Tail Tetra is an omnivore in the wild...
, Alestopetersius caudalis