Tetras: Complete A-Z Species Directory

Tetras are among the most popular freshwater aquarium fish in the hobby, and for good reason. These small, colorful characins bring life and movement to any community tank with their tight schooling behavior and vibrant colors. From the iconic neon tetra to the dramatic congo tetra, there are over 1,000 known tetra species — with dozens readily available to hobbyists.

This A-Z directory covers every tetra species we’ve profiled at Aquarium Store Depot. Use the alphabet links below to jump to any section, and click on any species name to read its full care guide. We’re actively adding new species — check back regularly as this directory grows.

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A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

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A

• Adonis Tetra (Lepidarchus adonis) — Miniature African tetra, one of the smallest characins in the hobby

B

• Beckford’s Pencilfish (Nannostomus beckfordi) — Slender, peaceful pencilfish with a golden body and red fin accents
• Black Darter Tetra (Poecilocharax weitzmani) — Small, dark predatory tetra that perches and darts from cover
• Black Line Tetra (Hyphessobrycon scholzei) — Silver-bodied tetra with a bold black horizontal line from head to tail
• Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) — Subtle beauty with a dark horizontal stripe and iridescent green-blue line
• Black Phantom Tetra (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) — Dark, elegant tetra where males display dramatic fin-spreading displays
• Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) — Hardy, beginner-friendly tetra with flowing black fins and a compressed silver body
• Bleeding Heart Tetra (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma) — Stunning tetra with a vivid red spot on its chest and large flowing fins
• Blind Cave Tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) — Eyeless cave-adapted tetra — a fascinating example of evolution in action
• Bloodfin Tetra (Aphyocharax anisitsi) — Hardy, long-lived tetra with a silver body and blood-red fins
• Blue Diamond Congo Tetra (Alestopetersius smykalai) — Brilliant blue African tetra, a rare and sought-after species
• Blue Emperor Tetra (Inpaichthys kerri) — Deep blue-purple tetra with a striking horizontal stripe, great for planted tanks
• Blue Tetra (Cochu’s Blue Tetra) (Boehlkea fredcochui) — Shimmering blue-bodied tetra from the Amazon, active and eye-catching
• Bucktooth Tetra (Exodon paradoxus) — Aggressive scale-eating predator — unique among tetras, not community-safe
• Buenos Aires Tetra (Hyphessobrycon anisitsi) — Robust, active tetra that thrives in cooler water and planted tanks

C

• Calypso Tetra (Hyphessobrycon axelrodi) — Reddish-brown tetra with subtle beauty, named after the orchid genus
• Candy Cane Tetra (HY511) (Hyphessobrycon sp. HY511) — Red and white striped tetra also known as HY511, popular in planted setups
• Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) — Iconic neon-blue and red tetra from the Amazon blackwater rivers
• Coffee Bean Tetra (Hyphessobrycon takasei) — Small tetra with two dark oval spots resembling coffee beans on its flanks
• Colombian Tetra (Hyphessobrycon columbianus) — Flashy tetra with brilliant blue-silver scales and red fins
• Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptus) — Large, iridescent African tetra with flowing rainbow-hued fins
• Coral Red Pencilfish (Nannostomus mortenthaleri) — Stunning deep red pencilfish, one of the most colorful Nannostomus species
• Costello Tetra (Hemigrammus hyanuary) — Also known as the January tetra, with a green lateral stripe and red eye

D

• Dash-Dot Tetra (Hemigrammus bellottii) — Small, subtle tetra with a thin horizontal line and caudal spot
• Diamond Tetra (Moenkhausia pittieri) — Sparkling, diamond-scaled tetra from Venezuela with long, elegant finnage
• Dragonfin Tetra (Pseudocorynopoma doriae) — Unusual tetra where males have elongated, dragon-like fin extensions
• Dwarf Pencilfish (Nannostomus marginatus) — Tiny, horizontal-striped pencilfish ideal for nano planted tanks

E

• Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) — Tiny, fiery orange nano tetra perfect for planted tanks
• Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri) — Regal Colombian tetra with purple iridescence and unique trident-shaped tail

F

• False Black Tetra (Gymnocorymbus thayeri) — Close relative of the black skirt tetra with a more subdued appearance
• False Rummy Nose Tetra (Petitella georgiae) — Nearly identical to the true rummy nose but from different river systems
• Featherfin Tetra (Hemigrammus unilineatus) — Silver tetra with a distinctive elongated white tip on its dorsal fin
• Firehead Tetra (Hemigrammus bleheri) — One of the three rummy nose species, with the most intense red head coloring
• Flag Tetra (Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus) — Tri-colored horizontal striped tetra resembling a flag
• Flame Tetra (Von Rio Tetra) (Hyphessobrycon flammeus) — Warm orange-red tetra, one of the oldest species in the aquarium hobby
• Flame-back Bleeding Heart Tetra (Hyphessobrycon pyrrhonotus) — Rarer bleeding heart variant with a fiery orange-red dorsal area

G

• Garnet Tetra (Pretty Tetra) (Hemigrammus pulcher) — Deep red-bodied tetra with a dark shoulder blotch, also called the pretty tetra
• Glass Bloodfin Tetra (Prionobrama filigera) — Nearly transparent tetra with a red-tipped tail, graceful and peaceful
• Glass Tetra (Moenkhausia oligolepis) — Large-scaled, semi-transparent tetra with a dark shoulder spot
• Glowlight Tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) — Peaceful tetra with a warm, glowing orange-red stripe along its body
• Gold Tetra (Hemigrammus rodwayi) — Metallic gold-skinned tetra whose color comes from a harmless skin parasite
• Green Fire Tetra (Aphyocharax rathbuni) — Vivid green body with a fiery red belly, a colorful Aphyocharax species
• Green Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon simulans) — Smaller, more subtle cousin of the neon tetra with an extended blue-green stripe

H

• Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla) — Unique surface-dwelling fish with a deep, hatchet-shaped body capable of leaping
• Head and Tail Light Tetra (Hemigrammus ocellifer) — Named for the reflective copper spots near its eye and tail base

J

• Jelly Bean Tetra (Ladigesia roloffi) — Tiny, translucent West African tetra with a warm golden sheen

K

• King Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon amphiloxus) — Dark variant of the emperor tetra with deep black-blue coloration
• Kitty Tetra (Hyphessobrycon heliacus) — Bright yellow tetra with a distinctive dark triangular marking

L

• Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) — Translucent yellow tetra with striking black-edged dorsal and anal fins
• Lipstick Tetra (Moenkhausia cosmops) — Brazilian tetra with a dark body and contrasting bright red lips
• Long-finned African Tetra (Brycinus longipinnis) — Large African characin with impressive elongated fins
• Loreto Tetra (Hyphessobrycon loretoensis) — Tiny, colorful tetra from Peru with a gold and red lateral stripe

M

• Marble Hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata) — Small, beautifully marbled surface-dweller that can glide above the water

N

• Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) — The most popular freshwater aquarium fish, known for its electric blue and red stripe
• Niger Tetra (African Red-Eye Tetra) (Arnoldichthys spilopterus) — Large African tetra with colorful fins and an iridescent body

O

• Ornate Tetra (Hyphessobrycon bentosi) — Elegant pinkish tetra closely related to the rosy tetra with ornate finnage

P

• Panda Tetra (Dawn Tetra) (Aphyocharax paraguayensis) — Black-and-white marked tetra also known as the dawn tetra
• Payara (Vampire Tetra) (Hydrolycus scomberoides) — Dramatic predatory fish with large fangs, a challenging species for experts
• Penguin Tetra (Thayeria boehlkei) — Active swimmer with a bold black stripe that extends into the lower tail fin
• Phoenix Tetra (Hemigrammus filamentosus) — Fiery orange-red tetra with extended dorsal filaments in males
• Pike Characin (Boulengerella maculata) — Elongated, pike-shaped predator from South American rivers
• Pink-Tailed Chalceus (Chalceus macrolepidotus) — Large, active characin with a vivid pink tail and silver body
• Platinum Tetra (Hemigrammus vorderwinkleri) — Shimmering silver-white tetra with a metallic platinum sheen
• Pristella Tetra (X-Ray Tetra) (Pristella maxillaris) — Also called the X-ray tetra for its translucent body with yellow, black, and white fin tips
• Purple Tetra (Meta Tetra) (Hyphessobrycon metae) — Subtle purple-gray tetra with a distinctive dark lateral band

R

• Rainbow Tetra (Nematobrycon lacortei) — Colorful relative of the emperor tetra with red, blue, and yellow hues
• Red Arc Tetra (Hyphessobrycon sp. red arc) — Newer to the hobby, featuring a distinctive red arc marking along its body
• Red Eye Tetra (Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae) — Active schooling tetra named for its distinctive red-rimmed eyes
• Red Hook Silver Dollar (Myloplus rubripinnis) — Large, red-finned silver dollar with a distinctive hook-shaped anal fin
• Red Phantom Tetra (Hyphessobrycon sweglesi) — Translucent red tetra with a dark shoulder spot, cousin to the black phantom
• Red-Base Tetra (Hemigrammus stictus) — Silver tetra with a vivid red patch at the base of its tail
• Red-Bellied Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri) — The most well-known piranha species, requiring specialized care and large tanks
• Red-Spotted Tetra (Copeina guttata) — Larger characin with rows of red spots along its silver flanks
• Rosy Tetra (Hyphessobrycon rosaceus) — Delicate pink-hued tetra with white-tipped fins, perfect for community tanks
• Ruby Tetra (Axelrodia riesei) — Tiny, jewel-red nano tetra perfect for small planted aquariums
• Rummy Nose Tetra (Petitella georgiae) — Tight-schooling tetra prized for its bright red nose and striped tail

S

• Sailfin Tetra (Crenuchus spilurus) — Rare, territorial tetra where males display an impressive sail-like dorsal fin
• Savanna Tetra (Hyphessobrycon stegemanni) — Hardy tetra from Brazil’s cerrado grassland waterways
• Serpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques) — Vibrant red-orange tetra with a bold black shoulder spot
• Short-stripe Penguin Tetra (Thayeria obliqua) — Similar to the penguin tetra but with a shorter, less extended stripe
• Silver Dollar Fish (Metynnis argenteus) — Large, peaceful herbivore with a round, silver coin-shaped body
• Silver Tetra (Ctenobrycon spilurus) — Robust, silver-bodied tetra that’s hardy and adaptable to many tank setups
• Silvertip Tetra (Hasemania nana) — Lively schooler with shimmering silver-tipped fins and a golden body
• Socolof’s Tetra (Hyphessobrycon socolofi) — Subtle, silver-blue tetra from the Rio Negro region of Brazil
• Splash Tetra (Copella arnoldi) — Famous for its remarkable breeding behavior of jumping to lay eggs on overhanging leaves
• Strawberry Tetra (Hyphessobrycon sp. strawberry) — Vibrant pinkish-red tetra, a newer species gaining popularity in the hobby
• Super Red Tetra (Hyphessobrycon sp. super red) — Intensely red color morph tetra, selectively bred for maximum color
• Swordtail Tetra (Corynopoma riisei) — Unique tetra where males extend a long, sword-like gill cover to attract mates

T

• Three-Lined Pencilfish (Nannostomus trifasciatus) — Elegant pencilfish with three distinct horizontal stripes
• True Rummy Nose Tetra (Hemigrammus rhodostomus) — The original rummy nose species, distinguished by its head pattern details
• Tucano Tetra (Tucanoichthys tucano) — Rare, vividly striped nano tetra from Brazil’s Rio Uaupes

U

• Ulrey’s Tetra (Hemigrammus ulreyi) — Understated silver tetra with a faint horizontal stripe and yellow finnage

Y

• Yellow Congo Tetra (Alestopetersius caudalis) — Golden-yellow African tetra, less common but stunning cousin of the Congo tetra
• Yellow Tetra (Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus) — Bright yellow-bodied tetra from southeastern Brazil

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Recommended Video

Check out our tetra tier list video where we rank the most popular tetras in the hobby: