Lemon Tetra

Lemon Tetra is one of the oldest fish kept by aquarists.  They are a moderately hardy and peaceful fish that can reach 15cm in length.

(Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) Native to the South American Amazon River region, the Lemon Tetra is a well-known and sought-after tropical aquarium fish. Their appearance makes them easy to spot even in a very crowded tank thanks to their signature bright yellow markings.

They reach up to 15cm in length, and are quite easy to breed.

Behaviour Tetras are usually peaceful and friendly, and Lemon Tetras are one of them. They like to swim together in groups and often get along with the same species. Its inquisitive nature makes it a good community aquarium inhabitant.

Lemon Tetra can show semi-aggressive to aggressive behavior in case they sense a threat and will stress a lot in such a situation. You might have seen different vibrant colors of species being schooled together. It is the same case for Lemon Tetra. However, they only school with a limited type of species. They can easily adapt to their own species in terms of working behavior very well.

This shoaling species must be kept in a school with at least 6 fish of its kind. It is obvious that a bigger tank is required if you want to keep more fish.

Tank Conditions Since Lemon Tetras have a naturally vegetated home, it is very important to recreate their natural habitat in an aquarium. Lemon Tetras like a dark environment and like to be covered with plants.  LED lights are perfect for flaunting their natural yellow color. A planted tank also requires extra light.

Small centerpieces with holes in them like driftwood and twisted roots are a great piece to start with. A few hiding spots help create a fun environment for Tetras. You can decorate your aquarium with live plants while creating a nice natural habitat for them.  A darker sandy substrate (they prefer sandy) will enhance the appearance of your aquarium and help balance out the color and create a nice contrast. A darker environment with plenty of plants and plenty of space to swim around will definitely keep your Lemon Tetra happy.

Compatibility They get along pretty well with small Danios, barbs, dwarf cichlids, Corydoras, and Otocinclus catfish. However, they can outcompete certain species like snails and crayfish. As tetra fish are small and peaceful in nature, you cannot add a big predator fish in your tank as their tank mates. Likewise, tetra fish can nip the fins of veiltail type of fish so, avoid slow-moving fish having long fins like the fancy goldfish. Go for the fish that are peaceful and have the same body size as that of tetra fish like guppies, mollies, corydoras catfish, platies, rasbora fish, and so on.

Feeding This pretty fish is popular for its lemony appearance and a good diet helps maintain its color. Being omnivorous, in the wild, they feed on plant matter and worms. A proper diet can include all kinds of living, fresh, and flaked foods. Colour enhancing fish food is recommended.  Brine shrimp and blood worms are a great treat

Care Lemon Tetras are not prone to any particular disease, but they are very susceptible to changes in water conditions – so you will have to keep this in mind.  The most commonly occurring diseases in Lemon Tetras are Ich, skin flukes, parasitic infestations, and infections. These diseases are most common in freshwater fish.