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The parameters for what qualifies as your "favorite tetra" is all up to you. Write down (linking is optional) on here what your favorite specie is. With that in mind: what's your favorite tetra? Mine is the Black Widow.

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Born in radioactive waters, the Mutant Goldfish swims...
Check out my profile to see my tank setup(s)!

I'm thinking about getting some tetras I hope you get some good answers.

Saint Paul, Minnesota USA 20g Freshwater Started June 10th 2008
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I like rummy-noses. They school really well and look nice.

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id have to say about a yellow tail barracuda or a vampire terta.

Of the common species, Rosy tetras hands down, although I might be a little biased since I haven't kept any similar species like Bleeding Hearts or Black Phantoms before. All of these types of fish have males with extended fins that will display to each other. And let me tell you, the displays are sweet.

Congos probably are up there too.

But as the type of guy who likes rare fishes, I'm sure there's a crazy rare tetra that I'd be a fan of.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

oh yes, rosy tetras.
those, as well as black phantom tetras, are by far my favorite tetras. No other tetras can come close in terms of beauty, besides maybe lemon tetras, but only those in amazing condition.

Cardinal Tetras are my favorite. I guess I never got tired of the classic popular fish. The Cardinals colors go well in a planted tank in contrast to the green background. They are not the most hardy of fish but pretty little guys. More bang for the buck too. at least hereabouts they are cheap.

"Talk is cheap. Action can be almost as affordable"

First place: adult male Blue Emperors (Inpaichthys kerri -- also called the "Kerri" or "Royal" tetra). To see why, take a look at http://www.waysideaquatics.co.uk/Purple-emperor-tetra.JPG -- they really do look like that. As with the somewhat less colorful "regular" Emperor tetra -- Nematobrycon palmeri -- the females and the immature males are blah-looking; but as the males grow they quickly color up to the beauty you see in that picture. They are a bit delicate -- Blackwater Tonic seems necessary to help them fight off infections -- but they're not EXTREMELY delicate, and they're starting to become more common in the stores.

Second place: Diamond tetras, which are now becoming very common in the stores. (The bigger they get, the more spectacularly sparkly they get.)

Third place: lots of contenders. (You'd be surprised how beautiful even tetras as supposedly familiar as Glowlights and Black Neons can look against a black background.)

I've only every kept friut tetras, painted glass tetras, neon tetras and a single black skirt... out of the bunch i like the appearnce of the painted glass (although genetically modified ) within the right aquascape and etc.

I do however have my fancy on some lemon and congo tetras!
If I inherit another tank or get the funds to buy another (with out further investing in my other tanks) i would love to get a nice school of either going! beauties!

and after looking at those blue emporers makes me envy brucemoomaw!

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Fruit tetras and painted glass tetras (which aren't actually tetras either) are worse than genetically modified...

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Yeah, the poor little buggers are INJECTED with dye -- which amounts to cruelty to animals (and which doesn't even last). When it comes to honestly colored, natural Tetras, however, there's an amazing variety.

...and here are two adult Diamond Tetras in all their maximum glittery glory: http://www.aqua-fish.net/imgs/fish1/diamond-tetra-1.jpg .

What's wrong with GMOs?

Rummynose Tetras are far and away my faves. They school well and look incredible together. I have 7 of them in my 20g. In fact, I am hoping to find a few more to build the school out a bit.

My next favorite are the silver tipped tetras I have in my 55. Although, they can be a little on the nippy side. But, they too are beautiful. I also have some Gold Pristella (X-Ray) Tetras... awesome looking as well, and very peaceful, like the Rummies.

There's nothing automatically wrong with genetically modified animals -- after all, humanity has been doing that since it started domesticating animals in the first place. Of course with fish, as with all other animals, you want to make sure that the modification doesn't do harm to the animal. (If we're talking about the famous Glowing Zebra Danio, I haven't seen any evidence that the luminosity gene built into them, despite its spectacular nature, does any harm to them -- whereas the Parrot Cichlid, from everything I hear, is a sickly monster.)

I agree. That's what I'm saying. The gene insert doesn't seem to have any deleterious impact on the well being of these fish. If nothing else, glofish tend to be more robust, IME.

OK, my choices would be as follows:

Favourites among the common species: Cardinals (for colour), Rummy Noses (for shoaling behaviour, but if you condition them properly their heads become like rubies) and Lemon Tetras for display antics (particularly when males are "jousting" with each other as I've described here in the past).

Favourites among the "wish list" Tetras: Bruce has already mentioned Inpaichthys kerri, which is a beauty, but I'd also like to put in a word for Poecilocharax weitzmani, which is a gorgeous little characin, but strictly for the dedicated, because it has VERY specialised requirements. A constant and reliable source of live food being critical for proper maintenance of this touchy species, which is the characin world's version of the Discus in terms of maintenance challenges. If you're prepared to dedicate a LOT of care and attention to it, though, Poecilocharax weitzmani will reward you with a stunning display of colour. This image should show you why]http://www.plantedtank.net/images/fish/blackmorphotetra.jpg[/link] I'm fond of this fish! Another stunning photo of a male in full display mode can be seen [link=here. But, dont even dream of taking this fish on unless you're VERY experienced, you're prepared to lavish the same attention on this fish that you would lavish on Discus, and the aquarium you put it in is provided with first-class filtration, preferably involving peat acidifcation.

Oh, and apparently, Poeciolcharax weitzmani lay their eggs inside caves, with the male taking up guard duty. They will, if properly conditioned, spawn inside PVC piping rather like some Loricariid catfishes. Raising the fry is likely to be a serious test of your fishkeeping skills though.



Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I've always enjoyed the Bleeding Heart Tetra, Hyphessobrycon Erythrostigma.
Very nice in groups, and they look like they have a little red heart inside.

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The calming qualities of a good aquarium are irrefutable

splash tetras - managed to find, buy and breed them years back - very cool breeding behaviour - they jump out of the water in a pas de deux and lay and fertilise eggs on overhanging leaves - amazing to watch.

I'm new to having tetras but I have 6 neons. I love the color shimmer they have. In a few weeks I'll be getting the Lampeye/Redeye. I hope they are just as striking!

TTFN --->Ta-Ta-For-Now
Kelly ;o}