Tetra is the common name of many small freshwater characiform fishes. Tetras come from Africa, Central America, and South America, belonging to the biological family Characidae and to its former subfamilies Alestidae and Lebiasinidae. The Characidae are distinguished from other fish by the presence of a small adipose fin between the dorsal and caudal fins. Many of these, such as the neon tetra, are brightly colored and easy to keep in captivity. Consequently, they are extremely popular for home aquaria.
The black neon tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family (Characidae) of the order Characiformes. It is native to the Paraguay basin of southern Brazil. They are often found in the aquarium trade.
Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus, also known as the Gold spot pleco or the Marbled sailfin pleco, is a species of armored catfish. It is endemic to Brazil, occuring in the Tocantins River basin. It is often mistaken for Pterygoplichthys pardalis or Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps.
Hyphessobrycon columbianus is a species of Tropical freshwater fish of the characin family. The Colombian tetra is native to the Acandi River near Acandí) in northwestern Colombia. The Colombian tetra's habitat tends to be slow-flowing creeks and tributaries.
The bleeding heart tetra is a freshwater tropical fish native to the Upper Amazon River basin. It grows to the size of 2.5 in (64 mm) and lives for around five years.
Thayeria boehlkei is a species of characin fish endemic to the Amazon river basin and Araguaia river, in Peru and Brazil respectively. The species is popular with aquarium hobbyists where it is traded under a variety of common names including blackline penguinfish, blackline thayeria, hockey-stick tetra, penguin fish and penguin tetra.
The diamond tetra is a small freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. It is found in and around Lake Valencia in Venezuela, South America.
The flame tetra, also known as the red tetra or Rio tetra, is a small freshwater fish of the characin family Characidae. This tetra was first introduced as aquarium fish in 1920 by C. Bruening, Hamburg, Germany, and formally described in 1924 by Dr. George S. Myers. Today large numbers are bred in captivity and it is common in the aquarium trade, but the remaining wild population in Southeast Brazil is highly threatened.
George Sprague Myers was an American ichthyologist who spent most of his career at Stanford University. He served as the editor of Stanford Ichthyological Bulletin as well as president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Myers was also head of the Division of Fishes at the United States National Museum, and held a position as an ichthyologist for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. He was also an advisor in fisheries and ichthyology to the Brazilian Government.
Protomelas kirkii is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is most commonly found in areas vegetated with Vallisneria. This species can reach a length of 18 centimetres (7.1 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The ember tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. It is native to the Araguaia River basin of Brazil and was discovered in 1987 and named in honor of the fish explorer Heiko Bleher's mother.
Nematobrycon palmeri, commonly known as the emperor tetra, is a species of characid fish found in the Atrato and San Juan river basins in western Colombia. It was first imported in the aquarium trade to the United States in 1960 and has since become well established.
Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus, commonly known as the flag tetra or Belgian flag tetra, is a species of freshwater characin fish endemic to Brazil. Belonging to the family Characidae, this species is distinguished by its vibrant coloration and patterns, which have contributed to its popularity in the aquarium trade.
The rosy tetra is a small species of characin from the South American countries of Guyana and Suriname. It is popular in the aquarium trade.
The royal tetra is a species of characin endemic to Brazil, where it is found in tributaries of the Aripuanã River. It was once the sole member of its genus.
Petitella bleheri is a species of characin found in Amazon Basin in Brazil and Peru. One of three species called rummy-nose tetra, but is also called firehead tetra according to FishBase. Reaching a standard length of 2 in (5 cm) it is a common species found in the aquarium trade although often potentially hybridised with the other collective rummy-nose tetra species Petitella rhodostomus and Petitella georgiae; the false rummy-nose tetra.
Hyphessobrycon agulha is a species of tetra in the family Characidae. As a freshwater fish, it inhabits the basin of the Madeira River in Brazil along with parts of Peru and Bolivia, and it reaches a maximum length of 4.3 centimetres (1.7 in). Though it is mainly found in the wild, it is occasionally kept by fishkeepers and is sometimes confused with the neon tetra. The fish is primarily an insectivore, though it does eat vegetable matter. It is considered to form a group with other species in Hyphessobrycon as they share a dark stripe running lengthwise.
Hyphessobrycon arianae is a species of tetra in the family Characidae. It is native to the Paraná River basin. It can grow to a length of about 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in).
Hyphessobrycon axelrodi is a species of tetra in the family Characidae.
Hyphessobrycon boulengeri is a species of tetra belonging to the family charicidae. It is native to South America. It inhabits the Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
