10 Best Tetras for Community Tanks: From Nano to Large Aquariums

Tetras are the backbone of community fishkeeping. Walk into any aquarium store and you will see tank after tank stocked with these small, colorful schooling fish darting through the water in tight formations. Their peaceful temperament, manageable size, and dazzling variety make them the default choice for community aquariums of all sizes.

But not all tetras belong in a community tank. Some species are persistent fin nippers that stress out slower tank mates and damage fins. Choosing the wrong tetra can turn a peaceful aquarium into a stressful one.

This guide covers the 10 best tetras for community tanks — from tiny nano specialists that thrive in 10-gallon setups to large show tetras that need 30 gallons or more. Each species profile includes key care stats, temperament notes, and compatibility advice to help you pick the right tetras for your aquarium.

What Makes a Good Community Tetra?

Not every tetra sold at your local fish store is community-safe. The best community tetras share a specific set of traits that allow them to coexist peacefully with other species.

The 10 Best Tetras for Community Tanks

Every tetra on this list is a solid pick — the numbering is just for easy reference, not a ranking. Any of these species will do well in a peaceful community setup.

1. Neon Tetra

Neon tetras are the most popular community tetra in the world, and they have held that title for decades. Their iridescent blue stripe and vivid red belly create a stunning display that never gets old, especially in a planted tank with dark substrate.

Neon tetras are hardy, inexpensive, and available at virtually every fish store. Decades of captive breeding have made them adaptable to a wide range of water conditions, which is why they are recommended so often for beginners. Their small size and peaceful nature mean they pair well with almost every other common community species. Keep the tank well-maintained, as neon tetras can be susceptible to neon tetra disease in poor water quality.

2. Cardinal Tetra

Cardinal tetras are widely considered the more beautiful cousin of the neon tetra. The key visual difference is the red stripe — on a cardinal, it extends the full length of the body from eye to tail, while a neon tetra only shows red on the back half. For a detailed breakdown, see our cardinal tetra vs neon tetra comparison.

Most cardinal tetras in the trade are wild-caught from the Rio Negro basin in South America. This means they tend to be hardier than mass-bred neons once properly acclimated, but they require softer, more acidic water to truly thrive. Cardinal tetras are an excellent choice for tanks with German blue rams or discus, as they share a preference for warm, soft water. Drip acclimation over 1 to 2 hours is recommended when bringing wild-caught cardinals home.

3. Ember Tetra

Ember tetras are the top choice for nano community tanks. At just 0.8 inches fully grown, these tiny fish pack an outsized visual punch — their deep orange-red coloration seems to glow against green plants, earning them a devoted following among planted tank enthusiasts.

Ember tetras are one of the safest tetra species for shrimp tanks. Their mouths are too small to eat adult cherry shrimp, making them a go-to pairing for aquarists who want both schooling fish and a thriving shrimp colony. Because of their tiny size, avoid housing them with any fish large enough to see them as food. Schools of 12 to 20 embers in a 10-gallon planted tank create one of the most visually striking nano setups in the hobby.

4. Rummy-Nose Tetra

If you want the tightest schooling behavior of any commonly available tetra, the rummy-nose tetra is your fish. They move in synchronized formation like a single organism — changing direction together in a way that no other tetra species can match.

Rummy nose tetras serve as a living water quality indicator. Their bright red nose fades rapidly when water parameters deteriorate — giving you an early visual warning before test kits might even register a problem. This makes them particularly useful in planted tanks where subtle parameter shifts are common. They are slightly more sensitive than neon tetras and do best in mature, well-established aquariums with stable water. Not the best beginner tetra, but outstanding for intermediate fishkeepers who maintain consistent conditions.

5. Black Neon Tetra

The black neon tetra is one of the most underrated community tetras available. Aquarium hobbyists who have kept them consistently rank them among the hardiest, most trouble-free tetras in the hobby — practically bulletproof once established.

Despite the name, black neon tetras are not closely related to neon tetras. They have a distinctive red eye with a pair of white and black horizontal stripes running along the body. What makes them stand out is their resilience — they tolerate a wide range of water conditions and rarely succumb to the diseases that plague other tetra species. They are also inexpensive, so you can buy a large school without breaking the budget. A group of 12 or more black neons against a backdrop of green plants is genuinely striking.

6. Glowlight Tetra

The glowlight tetra earns its name from the luminous orange-red stripe that runs from nose to tail, appearing to glow from within under aquarium lighting. This species has been a staple of the hobby since the 1930s and remains popular for good reason.

Glowlight tetras thrive in dimly lit planted tanks, where their signature stripe stands out most dramatically against dark substrate and dense vegetation. They are beginner-friendly, accepting a wide range of water parameters and eating standard flake and pellet foods. Their translucent body creates a subtle, elegant look that differs from the bolder coloration of neons and cardinals. Glowlights pair particularly well with corydoras catfish and other small, peaceful bottom dwellers.

7. Lemon Tetra

The lemon tetra is one of the most underappreciated tetras in the hobby. At first glance, juveniles look washed out and unremarkable in a store tank. But give them time in a well-maintained planted aquarium, and mature lemon tetras develop a vibrant translucent yellow body with striking black-and-yellow fin markings and a brilliant ruby-red eye.

Lemon tetras are exceptionally hardy and tolerant of a broad range of water conditions, making them forgiving for beginners. Their warm yellow tones complement the blues and reds of other tetra species, creating a natural color contrast when multiple schools share the same tank. They are active swimmers that occupy the middle water column and show their best coloration under moderate lighting with dark substrate. With a lifespan of 6 to 8 years, lemon tetras are among the longest-lived tetras available.

8. Green Neon Tetra

The green neon tetra is the nano specialist of the Paracheirodon genus. At just 1 inch fully grown, it is the smallest of the three neon-type tetras and one of the best tetras for small tanks.

Green neon tetras display a more prominent blue-green iridescent stripe that extends further toward the head than on standard neons, with minimal red coloration restricted to near the tail. They look best in blackwater setups with tannin-stained water, driftwood, and Indian almond leaves. Like ember tetras, their tiny size makes them safe with adult cherry shrimp. Green neons prefer soft, acidic water and school more impressively in larger groups — aim for 12 or more to see them at their best.

9. Congo Tetra

The Congo tetra is the show tetra of the hobby — a large, iridescent species that transforms a bigger aquarium into something truly spectacular. Males develop flowing fin extensions and shimmer in shifting shades of blue, gold, orange, and green as they move through the water.

Congo tetras originate from the Congo River Basin in Africa, making them one of the few popular aquarium tetras that are not South American. Their larger size means they need a 30-gallon tank at minimum, and they are best displayed in a 40-gallon or larger planted aquarium. Despite their size, they are peaceful and can coexist with smaller tetras, corydoras catfish, and dwarf cichlids like German blue rams. Avoid housing them with fin nippers, as their long, flowing fins make them a target.

10. Diamond Tetra

The diamond tetra rounds out this list as one of the most stunning tetras that few people talk about. Their scales reflect light with a diamond-like sparkle that intensifies dramatically in mature fish kept in planted tanks with dark substrate.

Diamond tetras are native to Lake Valencia in Venezuela. They are hardy and adaptable, tolerating a reasonable range of water conditions. One caveat: diamond tetras can occasionally nip at the fins of very slow-moving or long-finned tank mates. Keeping them in a group of 8 or more largely eliminates this behavior, as they focus their social interactions within the school. Their iridescent scales, purple-tinted fins, and prominent red eye-spot create a fish that genuinely looks better in person than in photographs.

Tetras to Avoid in Community Tanks

Not every tetra belongs in a peaceful community aquarium. Several commonly sold species are fin nippers, aggressive chasers, or outright predators that will terrorize tank mates.

Tetra Schooling Rules

Understanding how tetras school — and what happens when they cannot — is essential for building a healthy community tank.

Minimum Numbers Matter

Every tetra species on this list is an obligate schooling fish. In the wild, schooling provides protection from predators. A tight-moving group confuses predators and makes it harder to single out one individual. This instinct is hardwired. Even in a predator-free aquarium, tetras that cannot school experience chronic stress that leads to:

Can You Mix Tetra Species?

Yes — but each species needs its own school. A tank with 3 neon tetras, 3 embers, and 3 rummy-noses is generally less ideal than a proper school of 9 neon tetras. Different tetra species do not school together. Each group forms its own cluster and needs at least 6 of its own kind to feel secure.

The upside of mixing species is visual variety. A 30-gallon tank with 10 neon tetras, 8 ember tetras, and 6 corydoras creates a layered display with different colors at different levels of the water column. Just make sure you have enough tank space for proper schools of each species.

Best Tank Mates for Tetras

Tetras occupy the middle water column. The best community tanks pair them with species that fill different zones, creating a balanced display across the entire aquarium.

Bottom Dwellers

Corydoras catfish are the gold standard pairing for tetras. They are peaceful, social, and stay at the substrate level where tetras rarely go. Keep corydoras in groups of 6 or more on sand substrate. Kuhli loaches are another excellent option for the bottom zone — their nocturnal activity fills the tank with movement even after the lights dim.

Centerpiece Fish

Honey gouramis are the safest centerpiece for a tetra community tank. They are peaceful, colorful, and occupy the upper-middle zone without bothering schooling fish. For larger tanks of 30 gallons and up, German blue rams add stunning color and personality as bottom-to-mid-level centerpieces. Both species coexist peacefully with every tetra on this list.

Invertebrates

Cherry shrimp and amano shrimp make excellent additions to tetra community tanks. Amano shrimp are too large for any tetra to eat and provide exceptional algae control. Cherry shrimp are safe with smaller tetras like embers and green neons, but denser planting is recommended when housing them with larger species like rummy-nose or Congo tetras.

Other Schooling Fish

Harlequin rasboras and cherry barbs are not tetras, but they fill the same mid-water schooling role and pair naturally with any tetra species. Otocinclus catfish are another outstanding tank mate — these tiny algae eaters are completely peaceful and add bottom-level activity without competing for food or space.

How to Choose the Right Tetra for Your Tank

With 10 excellent options, narrowing down your choice comes down to three factors: tank size, water parameters, and the visual effect you want to create.

For tanks 10-15 gallons: Ember tetras, green neon tetras, or standard neon tetras give you the best results in smaller volumes. Stick to one species in a generous school.

For tanks 20-29 gallons: You have the most flexibility here. Neon tetras, cardinal tetras, rummy-nose tetras, black neon tetras, glowlight tetras, lemon tetras, and diamond tetras all work. You can keep one large school or two smaller schools of different species.

For tanks 30+ gallons: Congo tetras become an option, and you can build multi-species setups with three or more tetra schools occupying different visual niches. A planted tank with Congo tetras, a school of rummy-noses, and a group of corydoras on the bottom is a display that draws attention.

For shrimp tanks: Ember tetras and green neon tetras are the safest choices. Their tiny mouths cannot eat adult cherry shrimp, making them a go-to pairing for aquarists who want both fish and a thriving shrimp colony.

Whichever species you choose, remember the fundamentals: keep them in proper schools, maintain stable water parameters, feed a varied diet, and house them with compatible tank mates. Do that, and your tetras will reward you with years of vibrant color and fascinating schooling behavior.

For more species-specific guidance, explore our neon tetra care guide, ember tetra care guide, and cardinal tetra vs neon tetra comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions