🐟 Emperor Tetra Nematobrycon palmeri

The Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri) is a easy-care, peaceful species from Atrato and San Juan basins, Colombia. Adults reach roughly 2", so plan on a minimum tank of 20 gallons. Keep the water between 73–81°F with a pH of 5.5–7.5. This is a schooling fish — keep a group of at least 6 so it feels secure and colors up. As an omnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Good tankmates for Emperor Tetra

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraSerpae TetraGuppyEndler's LivebearerPlatyMollyGerman Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaKribensisZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraCherry BarbTiger BarbRosy BarbDwarf GouramiPearl GouramiBronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusKuhli LoachAmano ShrimpNerite SnailMystery SnailMarble HatchetfishBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraCongo TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraBuenos Aires TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraScissortail RasboraPearl DanioGiant DanioGlowlight DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbBoesemani RainbowfishNeon Dwarf RainbowfishThreadfin RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiChocolate GouramiKeyhole CichlidRainbow CichlidPygmy CorySterbai CoryJulii CoryGlass CatfishUpside-Down CatfishZebra LoachHillstream LoachClown PlecoLeast KillifishGhost ShrimpBamboo ShrimpCrystal Red ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet SnailRabbit SnailGold TetraPenguin TetraRed Eye TetraFlame TetraBleeding Heart TetraColombian TetraGalaxy RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbTurquoise RainbowfishForktail Blue-eyeLicorice GouramiCroaking GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaGolden RamFlag AcaraYellow Dwarf CichlidAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidCheckerboard CichlidEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryHabrosus CoryZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Bumblebee ShrimpLyretail KillifishClown KillifishHigh-Fin PlatyBalloon MollyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

Avoid these tankmates

AngelfishDiscusConvict CichlidOscarWhite Cloud MinnowPictus CatfishJack DempseyGreen TerrorTexas CichlidAuratus CichlidFrontosaChinese Algae EaterRed Tail SharkBlack Ghost KnifefishAfrican Butterfly FishRopefishSenegal BichirGolden Wonder KillifishCommon GoldfishRosy Red MinnowBucktooth TetraBanjar Red CichlidSalvini CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornRed Zebra CichlidVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidCompressed CichlidCalvus CichlidTropheus Duboisi

See the full tankmate guide for Emperor Tetra →