Species › Tetras
Lemon tetra tank mates and minimum tank size
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
Lemon tetras grow to 4 cm (1.6 in). They live in groups: keep at least 10. They need 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) and pH 5.5–7.5.
- Minimum tank
- 72 L (19 US gal), at least 80 cm (31 in) long
- Adult size
- 4 cm (1.6 in)
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- pH
- pH 5.5–7.5
- Group
- 10 or more
Lemon tetra minimum tank size
Lemon tetras need at least 72 L (19 US gal), in a tank at least 80 cm (31 in) long.
That is the largest minimum among the sources below. The planner also checks the tank length against the adult size of 4 cm (1.6 in): a tank shorter than 4 times that is cramped (16 cm (6.3 in)).
Lemon tetra tank mates
Each of the other 52 species in this reference, judged against lemon tetras by the same rules as the compatibility checker. A guide, not a guarantee.
Compatible (39)
- Black neon tetra
- Black skirt tetra
- Boeseman's rainbowfish
- Bristlenose pleco
- Bronze corydoras
- Cardinal tetra
- Celestial pearl danio
- Cherry barb
- Chili rasbora
- Clown loach
- Common pleco
- Congo tetra
- Discus
- Dwarf gourami
- Ember tetra
- Endler's livebearer
- German blue ram
- Glass catfish
- Glowlight tetra
- Guppy
- Harlequin rasbora
- Honey gourami
- Kribensis
- Kuhli loach
- Neon tetra
- Nerite snail
- Otocinclus
- Panda corydoras
- Pearl gourami
- Platy
- Pygmy corydoras
- Red tail shark
- Rummy-nose tetra
- Serpae tetra
- Siamese algae eater
- Swordtail
- Tiger barb
- Yoyo loach
- Zebra danio
With care (7)
- AngelfishAngelfish grow to 15 cm and eat animals they can swallow; lemon tetras grow to 4 cm.
- BettaBettas are usually best kept alone. Some accept calm tank mates such as lemon tetras, many do not.
- Cherry shrimpLemon tetras (4 cm) usually leave adult cherry shrimp (4 cm) alone but eat the young.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlidThe only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by cockatoo dwarf cichlids. That leaves no margin.
- MollyThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.5, set by mollies and lemon tetras. That leaves no margin.
- Mystery snailThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.2–7.5, set by mystery snails and lemon tetras. That leaves no margin.
- Peppered corydorasThe only temperature that suits both is 23 °C (73 °F), set by lemon tetras and peppered corydoras. That leaves no margin.
Not compatible (6)
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlids are aggressive and best kept in a tank of their own; they attack fish several times their size, so lemon tetras would be harassed. Convict cichlids grow to 15 cm and eat animals they can swallow; lemon tetras grow to 4 cm.
- GoldfishLemon tetras need 23–28 °C (73–82 °F); goldfish need 15.6–21.1 °C (60–70 °F). No temperature suits both.
- OscarOscars grow to 46 cm and eat animals they can swallow; lemon tetras grow to 4 cm.
- Paradise fishLemon tetras need 23–28 °C (73–82 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
- Rosy barbLemon tetras need 23–28 °C (73–82 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
- White cloud mountain minnowLemon tetras need 23–28 °C (73–82 °F); white cloud mountain minnows need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
Sources
Where sources differ, the value shown is computed as the most cautious one.
| Fact | Value | Source | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult size | Shown: 4 cm (1.6 in) | the largest of 2 sources | |
| 4 cm (1.6 in), standard length | Seriously Fish | ||
| 3.8 cm (1.5 in), standard length | FishBase | ||
| Minimum tank volume | Shown: 72 L (19 US gal) | one source | |
| 72 L (19 US gal) | Seriously Fish | ||
| Minimum tank length | Shown: 80 cm (31 in) | one source | |
| 80 cm (31 in) | Seriously Fish | ||
| Temperature | Shown: 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) | the narrowest of 2 sources | |
| 20–28 °C (68–82 °F) | Seriously Fish | ||
| 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) | FishBase | ||
| pH | Shown: pH 5.5–7.5 | the narrowest of 2 sources | |
| pH 5.0–7.5 | Seriously Fish | ||
| pH 5.5–8.0 | FishBase | ||
| Group size | Shown: 10 or more | one source | |
| 10 or more | Seriously Fish | ||