Care Level: Easy

Temperament: Peaceful

Live Plant Safe: Yes

General Description: The Lemon Tetra is a stunning, active fish that will bring a ray of sunshine into the community aquarium. Found in the lower Amazon basin, Lemon tetra prefer minor tributaries, small rivers, oxbows and flooded forests rather than the main river channels. Many Lemon tetra available within the aquarium trade are commerically produced, however. While Lemon tetra are relatively hardy, these aquacultured specimens have an extra leg up on their wild counterparts being better acclimated to artificial environments. The Lemon tetra has an electric yellow body, with a black and yellow marking on its anal fin, and a red highlight above the eye. Less mature specimens, or ones that are not as comfortable in their environment, will appear more dull. Lemon tetras are natural shoaling fish, thriving and showing their best coloration with at least 6 individuals but more are encouraged. An adult Lemon tetra can reach a size of approximately 2″.

Diet Requirements: In the wild Lemon tetra are omnivores. A diet made up of various high quality vegetable based and protein based flake foods, sinking micro pellet foods and bug bites are ideal, in addition to offering frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your fish.

Care Requirements: A minimum 5 to 10 gallon aquarium is ideal for a small group of Lemon tetra. Size up accordingly to accomodate a larger shoal. Lemon tetra are one of our listed “hardy fish” because they are able to endure the initial break-in cycle of a newly set-up aquarium. While their wild environments have gentle water flow, soft water and a more acidic pH, the Lemon tetra is a very adaptable species to a wide range of water parameters. The aquarium does not need to be aquascaped with anything in particular to keep a shoal of Lemon tetra happy, but a finer substrate, driftwood, plants (live are preferred) and other natural-looking arrangements will bring out the beauty of this tetra. Lemon tetra form loose hierarchies, and it is not uncommon to see a pair of males flared up at each other trying to get the attention of females. Lemon tetra are diverse in their compatability in freshwater aquariums, but at the very least should be mixed with other peaceful and similar-sized tetra species. Recommended water conditions, 74-82° F, KH 4-8, pH 6.0-7.5.

Purchase Size: Medium: 1” to 1-1/4”

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.