The true Penguin Tetra (Thayeria obliqua) like it’s close relative Thayeria boehlkei, is found in the central sections of the Amazon and Rio Tocantins basins as well as the Rio Guapore, in Brazil.    It inhabits the marginally vegetated black water jungle streams and tributaries and prefers the shady conditions encountered in these areas. Although […]

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The Falsle Penguin Tetra (Thayeria boehlkei) is found in jungle streams and tributaries in the central sections of the Amazon and Rio Tocantins basins, and the Rio Guaporé, in Brazil.  They are the most popular of only three species in the genus Thayeria that are all sold as “Penguin Fish“. Thayeria obliqua was the original […]

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The Gold Tetra (Hemigrammus rodwayi) is native to the slow moving rivers, tributaries and floodplain lakes of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Peru and Brazil. It is sometimes found in mildly brackish water where it is abundant in the coastal floodplains. Wild caught Gold Tetras collected from several areas in nature are a dazzling metallic gold […]

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The Rosy Red Tetra (Hyphessobrycon rosaceus) is a peaceful South American tetra that is often confused with Hyphessobrycon bentosi. It is found in the sluggish forest streams of Guyana and Suriname and is also called the Rosy Fin Tetra, White Finned Rosy Tetra, or Rosey Tetra by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts. Rosy Red Tetras are […]

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The Black Phantom Tetra (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) is found in the Paraguay, Guaporé, and Mamore river basins in Brazil and Bolivia.   In the aquarium trade, it is one of the more popular tetras sold to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts and is sometimes confused with the Black Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi). The Black Phantom Tetra has a […]

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The Black Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) is also known by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Black Skirt Tetra, Petticoat Tetra, High-fin Black  Skirt Tetra, and Black Widow Tetra. The Black Tetra is a peaceful, shoaling tetra that is found in the Paraguay and Guaporé River basins of southern Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia.  It is sometimes […]

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The Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) is a peaceful, shoaling fish that is native to the Paraguay basin of southern Brazil. The Black Neon Tetra has the typical elongated appearance of most tetras. The body is an iridescent blend of deep obsidian black paired with two distinct, adjacent, neon longitudinal stripes of yellow-green or white, […]

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The Diamond Tetra (Moenkhausia pittieri) is found only in Venequela’s Lake Valencia and the surrounding waters.  Because of agricultural and industrial pollution, Lake Valencia is subject to regular algae blooms which tend to isolate the Diamond Tetra in shallow, vegetated parts of the lake and in several of its slow moving tributaries.  Most fish sold […]

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The Serpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques) is also commonly referred to as the Blood characin, Bloodtetra, Callistus tetra, Jewel tetra, Red minor tetra and Red serpae tetra by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.  The term “Blood tetra” is a generalization that is used to describe a wide range of red colored tetras sold by tropical fish shops. […]

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The Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri) is a peaceful fish that is native to the Atrato and San Juan river basins in western Colombia. Most tropical fish keeping enthusiasts find the Emperor Tetra to be a perfect candidate for the community aquarium. The Emperor Tetra has a long, slim flattened body with sickle shaped dorsal, pectoral, […]

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The Buenos Aires Tetra (Hemigrammus caudovittatus) is an active, slender, silver bodied tetra that makes a great addition to any soft water South American community tank. Buenos Aires Tetras have a clear body with a thin blue line through it from the gills to their caudal fin.  The caudal and lower fins have an orange […]

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The Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptus) is a strikingly beautiful fish considered by most tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the crown jewel of tetras. Congo Tetras are large, peaceful, full bodied fish with shimmering long flowing fins and large iridescent scales. Their base coloration is silver with an orange like glow.  The actual background color of […]

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The Rummynose Tetra (Hemigrammus bleheri) is a South American characin that has been a long established favorite of tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.  The Rummynose Tetra is a peaceful omnivore that make an excellent addition to any tropical community aquarium with other non-aggressive fish. The Rummynose, also known as “firehead tetras“, are found in the upper […]

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Bleeding Heart Tetras (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma) are peaceful mid-water fish that get their name from the blushing blood red marking near their gills.  They are a school fish native to the upper Amazon River Basin and should be kept in small schools of 6 or more individuals when in an aquarium environment. The dorsal fin of […]

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The Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) is a spectacular delicate beauty that has been described as “one of the most popular aquarium fish ever”  by many tropical fish keeping enthusiasts. The Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) like it’s peaceful cousin the Neon Tetra is a charming little schooling fish that is in both appearance and behavior awesome. Although […]

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The diminutive Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)  is  frequently described as the “Jewel of the aquarium hobby” by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts for several reasons.  These popular little freshwater tropical fish are adorned with beautiful iridescent colors and when kept in large schools provide a beautiful addition to any South American community tank. Neon Tetras (Paracheirodon innesi) are […]

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