Congo tetra care guide
Also called: Congo characin
The Congo tetra is a large, peaceful African tetra whose males shimmer in rainbow colors and grow long, feathery fins. Keep a group of 6 or more in a long tank of 40 gallons or more, away from fin nippers.
Congo tetras need a tank of at least 40 gallons (151 L), a group of 6 or more, and water at 23–27°C (73–81°F) with a pH of 6–7.5. They grow to about 8 cm (3.1 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with Congo tetrasSee all tank mates
Congo tetra quick facts
| Scientific name | Phenacogrammus interruptus |
|---|---|
| Family | Alestidae |
| Origin | Congo River basin, Central Africa (most are farm-bred) |
| Adult size | 8 cm (3.1 in) |
| Minimum tank | 40 gallons (151 L), at least 120 cm (47 in) long |
| Temperature | 23–27°C (73–81°F) |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–18 dGH |
| Group size | 6 or more (shoaling fish) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | Mostly (nibbles soft plants) |
- Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.
- Long fins attract fin nippers.
Tank setup
A group of 6 needs at least a 40-gallon (151 L) tank, ideally 4 ft (120 cm) long, because adults are fast swimmers that startle easily. Plant the back and sides, leave a long open swimming lane and add floating plants to soften the light. Keep a tight lid, since frightened fish can jump.
How many Congo tetras in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits Congo tetras is a 55 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Congo tetras (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | Too small |
| 29 gallon | Too small |
| 40 gallon | Too small |
| 55 gallon | 6–24 |
| 75 gallon | 6–32 |
| 125 gallon | 6–54 |
What you need for Congo tetras
Sized for a 40 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 6 Congo tetras. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 40 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 40 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 334 lb (151 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 150 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 77 °F (25 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 160–240 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 75 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 36 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for Congo tetras
- Tropical fish pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)A good staple for medium community fish.
- Tight-fitting lid for a 40 gallon tank (opens Amazon in a new tab)Congo tetra can jump out of an open tank.
Product links go to Amazon search results. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.
Water parameters
Keep the water at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5. Soft to moderately hard water works, but clean, stable water matters most. Add them only to a mature, cycled tank, because poor water quickly shows as faded color and frayed fins.
Best tank mates for Congo tetras
These popular species share Congo tetras' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 84 good matches.
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Angelfish
15 cm (5.9 in) · 24–29°C (75–84°F)
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Avoid keeping Congo tetras with
- Betta fish: Betta fish tends to attack colourful, long-finned fish like Congo tetras, mistaking them for rivals.
- Cherry shrimp: Congo tetra eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Congo tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Oscar: Oscar can eat Congo tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Tiger barb: Tiger barb is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of Congo tetras.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Congo tetras.
Feeding
Congo tetras are omnivores with big appetites. Feed a quality flake or small pellet daily, plus frozen or live bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia for the best color. Include some plant-based food too, since hungry fish may nibble soft plants.
Behavior
They are peaceful but skittish, especially in small groups or with rowdy tank mates. Keep at least 6 in a mix of males and females. Good tank mates include peaceful tetras, rainbowfish, corydoras, plecos, Synodontis catfish and calm cichlids. Never add fin nippers like tiger barbs or serpae tetras, which ruin the males' fins.
Breeding
They scatter fairly large eggs and give no parental care. Condition a group on live and frozen food, then use a dim tank with a mesh bottom, plant clumps and soft, slightly acidic water. The eggs take about 6 days to hatch, which is long for a tetra, so remove any fungused eggs. Fry start on infusoria and move to baby brine shrimp after a few days.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Be patient with young fish. Juveniles look plain gray and only show their full color and fins as adults.
- Choose a long tank over a tall one. They need room to cruise.
- Use a tight lid and keep the tank away from busy doorways to reduce panicked dashes.
- Never add fin nippers. Tiger barbs and serpae tetras will shred the males' long fins.
- If they pick at soft plants, feed more vegetable food and use tougher plants like java fern or anubias.
Frequently asked questions
How big do Congo tetras get?
Males usually reach about 3–3.5 in (8–9 cm) including their long tail fin. Females stay smaller, at around 2.5 in (6 cm).
What size tank do Congo tetras need?
A group of 6 needs at least 40 gallons (151 L), and a 4 ft (120 cm) tank such as a 55-gallon is better. They are fast, nervous swimmers that need a long open lane.
Can Congo tetras live with shrimp?
Not with dwarf shrimp like cherries, which they may hunt. Larger shrimp such as adult amanos are a safer choice, though some losses can still happen.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.