African Red-Eyed Tetra Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

The African Red-Eyed Tetra is a lively West African characin with a silvery, translucent body and a striking red upper iris. Dark markings on the fins and body add contrast to its otherwise subtle colouring, while the streamlined shape reflects its active swimming style.

These tetras are energetic schooling fish that spend much of their time in the middle and upper levels of the aquarium. In a group, they display confident social behaviour and may briefly spar or chase one another without serious aggression.

In the wild, Arnoldichthys spilopterus is associated with warm, plant-rich waters in the Niger basin. Its natural environment can include shaded streams, quiet river margins and flooded areas where submerged vegetation and fallen plant material provide cover.

The species is sometimes overlooked in favour of more familiar South American tetras, but it is one of the more distinctive African characins available to aquarists. A spacious group gives these active fish room to swim and allows their colours and natural social behaviour to show at their best.

African Red-Eyed Tetras come from freshwater habitats in southern Nigeria, including parts of the lower Niger River region. They are native to West Africa, where they inhabit slow-moving rivers, streams and associated floodplain waters.

A group should have at least 100 litres of water, with a tank measuring around 90 cm in length to provide a useful uninterrupted swimming run. Use a soft sand or fine-gravel substrate, plenty of open swimming space and dense planting around the sides and rear. Driftwood, roots and shaded areas help recreate the species' riverine surroundings, while floating plants can soften the lighting without blocking the entire surface. Leave the aquarium securely covered because active individuals may jump.

Up to 7 cm (2.8 in) in total length. Females are usually slightly larger and deeper-bodied than males.

This species is an adaptable omnivore. Offer a varied diet of quality small pellets or flakes supplemented with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp and finely chopped bloodworm. Small vegetable ingredients can also be included in a varied prepared diet, and several modest meals help active fish feed effectively without leaving excess food in the aquarium.

African Red-Eyed Tetras are generally peaceful community fish and can be kept with similarly sized African tetras, Congo Tetras, peaceful barbs, larger rasboras, danios, rainbowfish and non-aggressive bottom dwellers such as Corydoras and small to medium-sized loaches. Their lively nature means they are best paired with robust, active companions rather than extremely timid fish. Avoid very slow-moving species with long, delicate fins, tiny fry and aggressive or predatory fish; larger groups usually help spread occasional chasing between members of the shoal.

African Red-Eyed Tetras are egg scatterers that breed most successfully in a separate, dimly lit breeding aquarium with soft, slightly acidic water and fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Condition a group with plentiful live or frozen foods, then introduce the adults when females are full of eggs. Spawning usually takes place among the plants, after which the adults should be removed because they may eat the eggs. The eggs generally hatch in roughly 24 to 36 hours, and the tiny fry initially require infusoria or another suitably fine first food before progressing to newly hatched brine shrimp.

Females are generally fuller through the abdomen, particularly when carrying eggs, and may be marginally larger overall. Males tend to be slimmer and more streamlined, although the differences can be subtle outside breeding condition.