Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Silver Tetra (Ctenobrycon spilurus)
A fast-moving, deep-bodied Characid that schools boldly in open water and is surprisingly beginner-friendly.
Will it live with a Silver Tetra?
We compare each fish against your silver tetra on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- African Butterfly Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Badis✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bearded Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bolivian Ram✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Brilliant Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Brilliant Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Burmese Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Gourami✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Giant Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 20–27 °C (68–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Giant Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glass Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glass Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keyhole Cichlid✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Leopard Frog Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Molly✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pantanal Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Pantanal Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Porthole Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Thick-lipped Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Upside-down Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Zebra Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Zebra Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Hard care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 26–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Afra Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Silver Tetra 6–7.5 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Afra Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Silver Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Afra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Silver Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bandit Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Expect Bandit Cichlid to harass Silver Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Brichardi Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Silver Tetra 6–7.5 vs Brichardi Cichlid 7.8–9) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Brichardi Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Silver Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Convict Cichlid⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Convict Cichlid and Silver Tetra are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add silver tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Daffodil Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.8–9); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Daffodil Cichlid and Silver Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add silver tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Demasoni Cichlid⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 9 cm · Hard care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Silver Tetra 6–7.5 vs Demasoni Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Demasoni Cichlid and Silver Tetra are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add silver tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Demasoni Cichlid in a shoal of 12+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Electric Yellow Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Silver Tetra 6–7.5 vs Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Electric Yellow Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Silver Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Golden Wonder Killifish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Golden Wonder Killifish to harass Silver Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Johanni Cichlid⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Johanni Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Silver Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Johanni Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Kribensis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Kribensis is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Silver Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Lifalili Jewel Cichlid⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Lifalili Jewel Cichlid to harass Silver Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Mexican Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 9 cm · Easy care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
- Mexican Tetra and Silver Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add silver tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Mexican Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Paradise Fish⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 16–26 °C (61–79 °F)
- Paradise Fish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Silver Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rosy Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Expect Rosy Barb to harass Silver Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rosy Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rusty Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.8–8.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Rusty Cichlid and Silver Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add silver tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (250 vs 9 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Silver Tetra as food.
- Alligator Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Silver Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 9 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat Silver Tetra as food.
- Clown Knifefish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Silver Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 9 cm Silver Tetra whole.
- Fire Eel clearly outsizes Silver Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Silver Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 9 cm Silver Tetra whole.
- Redtail Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Silver Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Silver Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
- Spotted Gar clearly outsizes Silver Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Silver Tetra is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
- Wels Catfish clearly outsizes Silver Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Silver Tetra is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
- Wolf Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Silver Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 115 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Silver Tetra care specs
- Care level
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Max size
- 9 cm (3.5 in)
- Min tank size
- 115 L (30.4 gal)
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Hardness
- 4–15 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Middle
- Group size
- 6+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- South America — Orinoco basin and coastal drainages of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana
What is a Silver Tetra?
The Silver Tetra (Ctenobrycon spilurus) is a deep-bodied, laterally compressed characin from South America, found across the Orinoco basin and the coastal drainages of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Adults reach around 9 cm (3.5 in) and are sheathed in brilliant, mirror-like silver scales — the look that earns them their common name and the alternate nickname “Silver Dollar Tetra.” A subtle dusky blotch sits near the base of the tail, the one marking that interrupts an otherwise near-uniform silver body. That coin-shaped profile distinguishes them from sleeker pencil tetras and the small, neon-coloured species most beginners start with.
Despite their size, Silver Tetras are classed as easy care. Commercially bred stock is widely available, they accept a broad range of staple foods, and their water requirements slot neatly into the South American community tank parameters most hobbyists already run. The main provisos are space and numbers: these are genuine open-water schooling fish, and a cramped or undersized group is both unhappy and more prone to nipping.
Where do Silver Tetras come from in the wild?
Wild Ctenobrycon spilurus inhabits the river systems draining the northeast shoulder of South America — the Orinoco basin in Venezuela and Colombia, plus the lowland coastal rivers of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. These are warm, soft, slightly acidic to neutral blackwater and clearwater rivers fringed with flooded forest, leaf litter and open sandy runs. The fish spend their time in the middle of the water column, schooling in large numbers in slower backwaters and river margins where food drifts through on the current.
Understanding this origin shapes every aspect of their tank setup: they want warmth, moderate current, open swimming room, and the psychological security of a large school. The vivid, reflective silver coloration functions as a schooling cue — individual fish mirror one another’s movements, making the group harder for predators to single out.
What size tank do Silver Tetras need, and how should it be set up?
The minimum is 115 L (30 gal), and that is truly a minimum for a group of six. A tank of 150–200 L (40–53 gal) gives a group of eight or ten the open swimming lanes they need to school properly, and larger tanks are noticeably more stable and forgiving. Prioritise footprint over height: a longer, shallower tank lets a school spread out side to side the way they would in a river run. A depth of 40–45 cm is adequate.
Decorate the perimeter and back wall with medium to large plants — Vallisneria, Sagittaria or broad-leafed Echinodorus — and leave the central and mid areas clear. Silver Tetras are middle-column swimmers and want unobstructed open water; too much vegetation through the centre breaks up schooling and causes stress. A sand or fine-gravel substrate suits the South American theme, and a few pieces of driftwood and smooth stones complete the setup without crowding swimming space.
Filtration should produce a moderate, directional current — these fish are accustomed to flowing river water and appreciate some flow, but avoid powerhead-level turbulence. A hang-on-back or canister filter rated for the tank volume is ideal. Keep the tank well-covered: like most characins, Silver Tetras can leap.
What water parameters do Silver Tetras need?
- Temperature: 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) — a reliable heater is essential.
- pH: 6.0–7.5, soft to neutral.
- Hardness: 4–15 dGH — soft to moderately hard.
These numbers mirror the warm, slightly soft conditions of their native drainages and overlap cleanly with most South American community tank setups. Stability matters as much as hitting exact targets: a fish that has acclimated to pH 7.2 and steady 26 °C is healthier than one bouncing between 6.5 and 7.8 week to week. Cycle the tank fully before adding fish, perform weekly water changes of 25–30%, and avoid sudden temperature swings when topping off after a change.
What do Silver Tetras eat?
Silver Tetras are omnivores with a broad appetite — one of the traits that makes them straightforward to keep. A quality flake or small pellet forms a reliable staple, covering basic nutritional needs. Supplement two or three times per week with frozen or live foods: bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia and cyclops are all accepted readily and keep the fish in peak colour and condition.
Because they are active middle-column swimmers, they intercept food as it falls through the water column and are also happy taking it from the surface. Feed small portions once or twice daily — enough to be consumed within two to three minutes — and remove any excess to keep the water clean. A varied diet reduces the risk of nutritional deficiencies and tends to bring out the best in their reflective silver scales.
How do Silver Tetras behave, and what are compatible tank mates?
Silver Tetras are peaceful and active, spending most of their time in the middle zone in a loose-to-tight school depending on whether they sense a threat. In a well-stocked tank with similarly sized companions, fin-nipping is unusual. The risk rises when the group is too small (fewer than six) or the tank is too cramped — under-schooled fish become anxious and redirect that energy toward nipping long-finned neighbours.
Good companions share their water parameters and occupy different zones: bottom-dwellers such as corydoras catfish and larger loaches make natural choices, as do other medium-sized peaceful characins. Robust, similarly sized cichlids that will not harass or be harassed — such as keyhole cichlids or festivum cichlids in a large enough tank — can also work. Avoid very small fish that Silver Tetras might outcompete at feeding time, and avoid slow-moving, long-finned species like bettas or fancy guppies that tempt fin-nipping behaviour.
For a full list of tested pairings, see Silver Tetra tank mates.
How do you tell male from female Silver Tetras apart?
Sexing Silver Tetras is straightforward once the fish are sexually mature. Females develop a noticeably deeper, rounder body profile — particularly visible when viewed from above or from the front — because they carry eggs. Males remain slimmer and more streamlined throughout their lives. The difference becomes most apparent when a female is in spawning condition, at which point the contrast between the two sexes is quite pronounced. In juveniles or young fish, sexing is unreliable; wait until they reach roughly two-thirds of adult size before attempting to identify sex. Colour and fin length are not reliable indicators in this species — both sexes are similarly silver and short-finned.
How do Silver Tetras breed?
Silver Tetras are egg scatterers that breed over fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. A separate breeding tank of 60–80 L (16–21 gal) with a temperature nudged toward the warmer end of the range — around 27–28 °C (81–82 °F) — encourages spawning activity. Condition the pair or a small group with high-quality live and frozen foods for one to two weeks before attempting a spawn.
The male courts the female actively; spawning involves the pair swimming side by side while scattering adhesive eggs among fine plants or a spawning mop. Remove the adults immediately after spawning, as they readily eat their own eggs. Eggs hatch in 24–36 hours at breeding temperature, and the fry become free-swimming a few days later. First foods are infusoria or commercial fry food, transitioning to baby brine shrimp nauplii as the fry grow. We rate this medium difficulty — the spawning act itself is not complicated, but raising the fry through the early stages requires attention and appropriate food.
What diseases are common in Silver Tetras, and how do you prevent them?
Silver Tetras are hardy and not especially disease-prone when kept in stable, well-maintained water. The most common issues are:
- Ich (white spot): Fine white dots across the body and fins, caused by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Almost always triggered by a temperature drop, stress, or introduction of a new, unquarantined fish. Prevention: stable heat, a proper quarantine period for all new arrivals.
- Fin rot: Ragged or receding fin edges, typically bacterial. A water-quality problem first — address ammonia, nitrite or high nitrate before anything else.
- Velvet: A dusty gold or rust-coloured sheen caused by Oodinium. Like ich, it enters via unquarantined fish and spreads quickly in a school. Dim lighting slows the parasite’s reproductive cycle while you address the issue.
- Internal parasites: Occasional in wild-caught or poorly sourced stock. Signs include wasting despite a good appetite and pale or stringy faeces. Source fish from reputable suppliers and quarantine for at least two weeks.
Health note: Medication dosing and specific treatment regimens are beyond the scope of a care profile. If your fish show disease symptoms, confirm the diagnosis against a reputable veterinary or fish-health reference before medicating. Many conditions respond first and foremost to water-quality correction.
How long do Silver Tetras live?
A well-cared-for Silver Tetra lives 3–5 years. Achieving the upper end of that range comes down to the basics: a correctly sized tank with a proper school, stable South American water parameters, a varied diet, and consistent maintenance. These are not fragile fish — they respond well to good husbandry and will remain active, schooling, and visually striking for years when their needs are met.
Frequently asked questions
How many Silver Tetras should I keep together?
At least six — this is a genuine schooling species and solitary or small groups become skittish and stressed. A group of eight or more in a 115 L+ tank shows the best natural schooling behaviour.
Are Silver Tetras fin-nippers?
They can nip when under-stocked or cramped. Keep a proper school (6+) in a spacious tank with active same-sized tank-mates, and fin-nipping is rarely a problem.
What you need to keep a silver tetra
The baseline is a heated, filtered 115 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a silver tetra in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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