Green Fire Tetra

Green Fire Tetra

Availability: Regularly Available

Common Names

• Green Fire Tetra
• Green Fire Tetra Fish
• Aphyocharax rathbuni

 

Identification

The Green Fire Tetra is a small, peaceful schooling fish prized for its vibrant greenish-yellow body with fiery red and orange accents. Its shimmering coloration becomes especially attractive under aquarium lighting, making it an excellent choice for planted and community aquariums.

This active nano fish is best kept in groups, where its natural schooling behaviour and bright colours can be fully appreciated. Adults typically reach approximately 1.5–2 inches (4–5 cm).

 

Behaviour & Role

Green Fire Tetras are active, peaceful schooling fish that spend most of their time swimming through the middle portion of the aquarium. Keeping them in a group of 6 or more helps them feel secure and encourages natural schooling behaviour.

Their small size and vibrant colour make them particularly well suited to planted aquariums and community setups.

 

Compatibility & Caution

Green Fire Tetras are generally peaceful and can be housed with other similarly sized, non-aggressive community fish. Because of their small size, avoid keeping them with large predatory fish that may view them as prey.

Suitable tank mates include:

• Corydoras
• Small Rasboras
• Small Tetras
• Guppies
• Small peaceful Gouramis
• Otocinclus
• Other peaceful nano fish

 

Care Level

Easy

• Tank Size: Minimum 10 gallons; 20 gallons or larger recommended for a proper school
• Temperature: 72–80°F (22–27°C)
• pH: 6.0–7.5
• Water Hardness: Soft to Moderately Hard

 

Provide clean, stable water, gentle to moderate filtration and some plants or décor that offer cover. An open swimming area should also be provided for schooling.

 

Green Fire Tetras are omnivores and should receive a varied diet consisting of:

• High-quality nano pellets
• Small flakes
• Baby brine shrimp
• Daphnia
• Frozen or freeze-dried foods
• Other appropriately sized community fish foods

 

Tank Mates

Excellent companions include:

• Corydoras
• Rasboras
• Small Tetras
• Guppies
• Endler's Livebearers
• Otocinclus
• Small peaceful Gouramis
• Other peaceful community fish

 

Fun Fact

Green Fire Tetras are schooling fish, and their colours often become more vibrant when they are kept in a larger group. A well-established school moving through a planted aquarium creates a beautiful shimmering display of green, yellow and fiery red.