Tetras and other characins
Shoaling South American and African fish sold as the default community stock. Most need larger groups than they are sold in, and several of the ones with the mildest reputations are persistent fin-nippers.
29 species, separated by adult size. Part of the freshwater fish catalogue.
Nano — under 4 cm (5)
Small enough for tanks under 60 cm, and usually needing larger groups than their size suggests.
- Dwarf pencilfishNannostomus marginatus3 cmModerategroup of 8+
- Ember tetraHyphessobrycon amandae2.2 cmUndemandinggroup of 10+
- Green neon tetraParacheirodon simulans2.5 cmDemandinggroup of 10+
- Marbled hatchetfishCarnegiella strigata3.5 cmModerategroup of 6+
- Neon tetraParacheirodon innesi3.5 cmModerategroup of 8+
Small — 4 to 8 cm (23)
The core of most community tanks.
- Beckford's pencilfishNannostomus beckfordi4 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Black neon tetraHyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi4 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Black phantom tetraHyphessobrycon megalopterus4.5 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Black skirt tetraGymnocorymbus ternetzi6 cmUndemandinggroup of 6+
- Bloodfin tetraAphyocharax anisitsi5.5 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Blue tetraBoehlkea fredcochui5 cmModerategroup of 10+
- Brown pencilfishNannostomus eques5 cmModerategroup of 8+
- Buenos Aires tetraHyphessobrycon anisitsi7 cmUndemandinggroup of 6+
- Cardinal tetraParacheirodon axelrodi5 cmModerategroup of 8+
- Colombian tetraHyphessobrycon columbianus7 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Common hatchetfishGasteropelecus sternicla7 cmModerategroup of 6+
- Coral red pencilfishNannostomus mortenthaleri4 cmModerategroup of 8+
- Diamond tetraMoenkhausia pittieri6 cmUndemandinggroup of 6+
- Emperor tetraNematobrycon palmeri5 cmUndemandinggroup of 6+
- Glowlight tetraHemigrammus erythrozonus4 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Lemon tetraHyphessobrycon pulchripinnis4.5 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Penguin tetraThayeria boehlkei7 cmUndemandinggroup of 6+
- Pretty tetraHemigrammus pulcher5 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Pristella tetraPristella maxillaris4.5 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Rummy-nose tetraHemigrammus rhodostomus5 cmModerategroup of 8+
- Serpae tetraHyphessobrycon eques4 cmUndemandinggroup of 10+
- Splash tetraCopella arnoldi6 cmModerategroup of 6+
- Three-lined pencilfishNannostomus trifasciatus5 cmModerategroup of 8+
Medium — 8 to 15 cm (1)
Needs real swimming length. Frequently sold as juveniles into tanks that will not suit the adult.