Red Eye Tetra - Lamp Eye 3.5cm

Red Eye Tetra 

Red-eye Tetras have been a long-available but quite underrated species in the aquarium hobby. These are fantastic larger-growing tetra species that are perfect to fill out a larger aquarium. Due to the unawareness of the red eye tetra along with the often drab colours as juveniles, these fish are often overlooked and not common in aquarium stores.

These fish have a more oval body shape in comparison to some of the classic tetra species like neons, they also get fairly large reaching a maximum size of 7cm making them a great option for larger aquariums. As their name suggests the red eye tetras have a deep, blood-red colour that contrasts amazingly against the silver body colour. Along with the contrasting red, there is also a netting-like pattern across the scales that ends at a jet-black bar near the tail. The red-eye tetra also schools relatively well and is a laid-back, peaceful fish that is perfect to accentuate a planted aquarium or to just add some volume to a community tank. 

Red-eye tetras are tropical species that thrive in temperatures between 24-28 degrees. They are also extremely peaceful fish but feel best when kept in schools of 6 as a minimum but ideally, 10 or more would be perfect. breeding these fish in the home aquarium is not common due to their lack of popularity, but it is possible. Females tend to be more rounder bellied than males and will scatter eggs through the aquarium and males follow by fertilizing. The wild origin of red eye tetras is South America.

Tank Recommendations for your Red Eye Tetra

Being relatively easy to care for fish the red eye tetra can be kept in nano aquariums with the minimum being 75 liters. This aquarium size allows for a decent school of these tetras along with other community fish if required. 

The substrate choice is not of concern as long as it does not elevate the PH as these fish prefer softer water with a PH between 6 - 7.  A really unique aquarium setting for these fish would be a biotope or blackwater aquarium as their red-eye colour will really stand out. 

Suitable Tank Buddies

The red-eye tetra is an extremely peaceful fish that displays no aggression or fin-nipping behavior They can be kept with a wide range of fish being top, bottom, and mid dweller fish. 

Usually Compatible

Angelfish, glow light tetras, neon tetras, Apistogramma, rams, and a range of dwarf/nano peaceful fish.  

Sometimes Compatible

Larger semi-aggressive fish such as convict cichlids, severum, and species may show prolonged aggression towards the red eye tetra. 

Rarely Compatible

Large and aggressive species which may prey on the red-eye tetra along with any incredible nano species such as shrimp.

Feeding your Red Eye Tetra

Red eye tetras much like any other tetra species are a very easy fish to feed. They will take a wide range of pellets, flakes and frozen foods. Just like any fish though they should be fed a varied diet with a mix of different foods.

The ideal diet would be a good quality micro slow sinking pellet or flake, supplemented with frozen bloodworms or black worms or even live foods like baby brine shrimp or micro worms.