Lemon tetra care guide
The lemon tetra is a peaceful, see-through yellow tetra with black-edged fins and a bright red eye. It is an easy community fish that looks its best in a group of 8 or more in a planted tank, fed a varied diet.
Lemon tetras need a tank of at least 20 gallons (76 L), a group of 8 or more, and water at 23–27°C (73–81°F) with a pH of 5.5–7.5. They grow to about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with lemon tetrasSee all tank mates
Lemon tetra quick facts
| Scientific name | Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis |
|---|---|
| Family | Acestrorhamphidae |
| Origin | Tapajós River basin, Brazil (most are farm-bred) |
| Adult size | 4.5 cm (1.8 in) |
| Minimum tank | 20 gallons (76 L), at least 75 cm (30 in) long |
| Temperature | 23–27°C (73–81°F) |
| pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 2–12 dGH |
| Group size | 8 or more (shoaling fish) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | Mostly (eats baby shrimp) |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
Tank setup
A group of 8 needs at least a 20-gallon (76 L) tank about 30 in (75 cm) long. Plant the back and sides, keep open water in front, and use a dark substrate or background. Their yellow shows up far better against dark surroundings than in a bare, bright tank.
How many lemon tetras in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits lemon tetras is a 20 gallon long. 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 | Lemon 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 | 8–22 |
| 29 gallon | 8–33 |
| 40 gallon | 8–45 |
| 55 gallon | 8–62 |
| 75 gallon | 8–85 |
| 125 gallon | 8–142 |
What you need for lemon tetras
Sized for a 20 gallon long tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 8 lemon tetras. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 20 gallon long 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 20 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 167 lb (76 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 75 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 80–120 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 45 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 30 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 lemon tetras
- Micro pellets or flakes for small fish (opens Amazon in a new tab)Small enough for tetras, rasboras and other nano fish.
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Water parameters
Keep them at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water. Nearly all are farm-bred and adapt well to tap water. Very hard water can dull their color.
Best tank mates for lemon tetras
These popular species share lemon tetras' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 97 good matches.
Betta fish
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Dwarf gourami
7.5 cm (3 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°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)
Avoid keeping lemon tetras with
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Lemon tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Oscar: Oscar can eat lemon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat lemon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful lemon tetras.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful lemon tetras.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Lemon tetra 23–27°C (73–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
Feeding
Lemon tetras are omnivores. Feed a quality flake or micro pellet daily and add frozen or live bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp a few times a week. A varied diet is the key to a strong lemon color, and poorly fed fish look pale.
Behavior
They are very peaceful and fit well in community tanks. Males show off to each other with spread fins, which looks dramatic but rarely causes harm. Good tank mates include other small to mid-sized tetras, hatchetfish, pencilfish, corydoras, small plecos and peaceful dwarf cichlids.
Breeding
They scatter eggs, give no parental care and spawn often once well fed. For a good number of fry, use a dim breeding tank with mesh, marbles or a spawning mop on the bottom and soft, slightly acidic water at the warm end of their range. Remove the adults after spawning. Feed fry infusoria or very fine food first, then baby brine shrimp.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Keep 8–10 or more with both sexes. Males color up and display more when rivals and females are around.
- Pale lemons are usually stressed or underfed. Add frozen foods and more plant cover.
- A dark background makes their yellow fins and red eye stand out.
- Males are slimmer, with bolder black edges and stronger yellow on the anal fin. Females are rounder.
Frequently asked questions
How many lemon tetras should be kept together?
Keep at least 8. A group of 10 or more with both males and females gives the best color and behavior.
Why is my lemon tetra pale?
Lemon tetras often look washed out when they are new, stressed or poorly fed. A varied diet with frozen foods, more plants and a dark background usually brings their color back within a few weeks.
Are lemon tetras fin nippers?
No, they are one of the calmer tetras. Males spar with each other by flaring their fins, but they rarely bother other fish.
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.