Lemon Tetra Care Guide
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis · Easy care · 20 gallon minimum
A translucent yellow tetra with lemon-and-black fin accents; peaceful and hardy for community tanks.
Check your stocking with the stocking calculator →
How big does a lemon tetra get?
A lemon tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) reaches about 2.0 inches as an adult. Plan tank size and tank mates around the adult size, not the small fish you buy at the store.
Tank size & setup
Give a lemon tetra a minimum of 20 gallons, with water at 72–82°F and a pH of 5.5–7.5. Keep them in groups of at least 6 — they are shoaling fish and become stressed and washed-out alone. As a easy-care, omnivore species, a stable, cycled tank with the right diet keeps them healthiest.
Good tank mates
Pair a lemon tetra with peaceful species that share its temperature and pH range. Compatible options include:
- Neon Tetra — 1.5", 10g min
- Guppy — 2.0", 10g min
- Molly — 4.0", 20g min
- Platy — 2.5", 10g min
- Zebra Danio — 2.0", 10g min
About the lemon tetra
The lemon tetra is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acestrorhamphidae, the American characins. This fish is from South America. It is a small tetra growing to 5 cm (2 in) in length. The species is a long established favourite aquarium fish, being introduced to the aquarium in 1932.
Recommended gear for lemon tetras
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.