Emperor Tetra

Nematobrycon palmeri

A striking tetra with an extended, three-pronged tail in males. Males establish mild territories, so a roomy, planted tank suits them best.

Care Parameters

Adult size

4.5 cm

Min tank

54 L

Temperature

23–27°C

5–7.5

1–12 dGH

Diet

Omnivore

Temperament

Peaceful

Water zone

Middle

Difficulty

Beginner

Schooling

School of 6 or more; one male per 3 females if breeding.

Suitable Plants

Cryptocoryne beckettii

Care profile for Cryptocoryne beckettii: low-medium light, low CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Rotala sp. h'ra

A stunning stem plant that develops intense orange-red coloration under high light and CO2. Narrow leaves arranged in whorls create a striking background accent in aquascapes.

Myriophyllum

A graceful stem plant with feathery, comb-like leaves that create a soft, flowing background effect. Also known as Parrot's Feather, it adds delicate texture to aquascapes.

Red Rotala

Red stem plant. Turns red under high light with CO₂.

Amazon Sword

Care profile for Amazon Sword: medium light, low CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Compatible Invertebrates

Zebra Nerite Snail

A striped, hard-working algae grazer that never overpopulates: its eggs are laid all over the glass but only hatch in brackish water, so they simply stay put. Prefers harder water (GH 6-20 dGH) with calcium for a healthy shell; watch for escapes, as it can climb out of open tanks.

Ghost Shrimp

A see-through, feather-light scavenger sold by the handful. Tough across 3-15 dGH and a wide temperature band. Beware mislabeled tankmates: true Ghost Shrimp is Palaemon paludosus, while the larger, more predatory Macrobrachium species are often sold under the same name.

Rabbit Snail

A large, striking freshwater snail with a conical shell and colorful body. Comes in orange, yellow, and dark variants. Active algae and detritus consumer, but slow breeder.

Great Ramshorn Snail

The large, coiled ramshorn that doubles as a cleanup crew and a living water-quality alarm. Every individual is hermaphroditic, so any pair can breed - populations explode only when overfeeding creates a feast, and they shrink right back once feeding is cut back.