Tetras are small freshwater fish that are famous for being hardy and easy to keep. Among these Tetras, many types have distinct golden colors. Having them in your aquarium will be a remarkable addition, especially with their famous shoaling behavior.
In this article, we have compiled a big list of 6 golden Tetra fish ideas for your aquarium. Keep on reading to know more about their attitudes and care requirements.
Some Equipment For Your Golden Tetra Tank
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Here Are 6 Types of Golden Tetra Fish
Here are the types of golden tetras you can add to your collection for a shinier and more special aquarium.
1. Gold Tetra (Hemigrammus Rodwayi)
The Gold Tetras are native to Amazonian Basins in South America. They can be found in Brazil, Peru, Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname.
- Care level: Moderately difficult.
- Size: 4 – 5.5 cm (1.6 – 2.4 inch).
- Temperature range: 75 – 82.4 °F (24 – 28 °C).
- PH range: 5.5 – 7.
- Social behavior: Peaceful schooling fish.
- Tank size: Approximately 20 gallons.
Gold Tetras are usually found in large schools. They’re distinctive for the golden tint on their bodies. It’s known to be caused by a natural secretion process to protect itself from some parasites found in the wild.
These golden fish usually swim in middle levels, which is a display on its own. Therefore, they need enough open space in the middle. They’re also known to be prone to stress because of changes in their water. However, enough space and consistent maintenance can give you the chance of enjoying a unique aquarium while keeping your fish safe.
Gold Tetras are peaceful and non-threatening to similar or different species. Therefore, if you want to choose different tank mates, you have to look for friendly companions. Avoid bigger and aggressive fish, as well as slow eaters or slow swimmers. The Gold Tetras is likely to eat faster than the other slower fish causing an imbalance in your tank.
2. Buenos Aires Tetra (Hyphessobrycon Anisitsi)
Buenos Aires Tetra is one of the largest tetras. It’s also known as the Diamond Spot Characin and Red Cross fish. Like many Tetras, they’re native to South American, especially in Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil.
- Care level: Easy.
- Size: max. 8 cm (3 inches).
- Temperature range: 64 – 82 °F (18 – 28 °C).
- PH range: 5.8 – 8.5.
- Social behavior: Peaceful and shoaling.
- Tank size: 30 gallons.
Their color is mostly silver with blue lines orangey-red fins while some of them have yellow tails. There are also some of them in albino, which are very close to gold color. This type of tetra is active and likes to swim in open spaces like the Gold Tetra. They’re also jumpers and should be kept in closed tanks.
Buenos Aires fish are peaceful and social. Still, they aren’t the best companion with smaller kinds of tetra and may bully them. They aren’t good with fish with long fins as they could nip on their tail. However, they’re good with larger tetras and best in big schools of their kind.
It isn’t recommended to keep your Buenos tetras in an aquarium with live plants. As they’re known for eating live plants, and so you have to consider getting sturdy live plants or artificial ones instead. However, they don’t eat plants only; they also eat live food as well as flake and dried food.
3. Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammus Interruptus)
As their names indicate, the origin of these fish goes back to the Congo River in Africa. However, they’re usually bred in captivity.
- Care level: Moderate.
- Size: max. 7.6 cm (3 inches)
- Temperature range: 73 – 82 °F (23 – 28 °C).
- PH range: 6 – 6.5.
- Social behavior: peaceful schooling fish.
- Tank size: 40 gallons.
Congo Tetras are famous for their stunning rainbow colors. These colors shift when light is reflected on them, making a beautiful scene in your aquarium. Their bodies are usually blue on top, red and gold in the middle, and blue again in the belly area.
All tetras are best in schools of their same type. Also, the Congo Tetra is better in a school of 6 and more or with other tetras of the same size. Yet, avoid aggressive types as Congo Tetras are of the peaceful kind.
These colorful fish prefer dark water and their tanks to have dim light. They’re also prone to stress just like their Gold Tetra mates. Therefore, their tank needs regular maintenance. You’ll also need to check and change the water regularly.
4. Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon Pulchripinnis)
The Lemon Tetras origins are often attributed to the Rio Tapajos basins in Brazil. They’re also known for preferring shallow vegetated areas. Though lots of them now are tank-bred, they’re kept in tanks that imitate their natural habitat.
- Care level: Easy.
- Size: 3.5 – 4 cm (1.4 – 1.6 inches).
- Temperature range: 68 – 82 °F (20 – 28 °C).
- PH range: 5 – 7.5.
- Social behavior: Peaceful, shoaling fish.
- Tank size: 20 gallons.
These fish have bright lemon-yellow bodies and fins. Their colors are best displayed in dim light, especially when viewing their shoaling behavior. Lemon Tetras thrive in large schools of about six or more. They also like to have open swimming spaces like most tetras.
It’s best to keep these fish in tanks with lots of plants to match their natural habitat. Moreover, their filters should be the type that adds current to their water. As for being in a community, they’re generally peaceful when kept with tetras and non-aggressive fish similar in size.
5. Silvertip Tetra (Hasemania Nana)
Silvertop Tetras are found in the streams and rivers of the Sao Francisco basin in Brazil. They’re named after the remarkable silver tip in their fins.
- Care level: Easy
- Size: max. 5 cm (2 inches)
- Temperature range: 72 – 82 F (22 – 28 C)
- PH range: 6 – 8.
- Social behavior: Peaceful.
- Tank size: 20 gallons.
These fish are golden-yellow with a black tail and silver tips. However, these are the colors of the males only. Females tend to have more of paler brownish-yellow color.
They like staying in tanks with lots of plants as they like hiding among them to feel comfortable. They also prefer staying in the dim light. This can be achieved by adding some floating plants to the water.
The Silvertip Tetras are best kept in a group of around six and more. Yet, in a community, they should be kept with tetras of the same size. As they can turn to be the fin-nipping type with
small-sized individuals or fish with long fins.
6. Gold Pristella Tetra (Pristella Maxillaris)
This is another tetra with a South American origin. It can be found in different countries, including Brazil, Venezuela, and British Guiana.
- Care level: Easy
- Size: max. 5 cm (2 inches)
- Temperature range: 64 – 82 F (18 – 28 C)
- PH range: 5.8 – 8.5.
- Social behavior: Peaceful.
- Tank size: 15 gallons.
The Gold Pristella Tetra is the albino version of the X-Ray Pristella Tetra.
It has a translucent gold body with fins of yellow and white marks. It also has a distinguishable pale red or pink tail fin.
These golden fish like to hide, and so should have some plants and rocks in their tanks. They like tanks with moderate or dim lighting. Though the tetras live in freshwater, this Gold pristella can tolerate some salinity (about 10%)in their water.
They’re also best kept in groups of 6 and more like the other tetras. Gold Pristella Tetra is peaceful and suitable in aquarium communities when kept with similar-sized fish. However, it shouldn’t be kept with any kind of aggressive fish.
Final Thoughts
Whether you preferred purely golden tetras or tetras with golden parts, their colors will add sparkle to your aquarium. Most of these tetras are easy to keep and maintain. They only require a peaceful community and a suitable habitat to thrive.
Looking For More Colorful Tetra Ideas Check Out These Articles:
- Most Colorful Tetra Fish Species for Your Aquarium
- Golden Tetra Fish Ideas For Your Aquarium
- Green Tetra Fish Ideas For Your Aquarium
- Orange Tetra Fish Ideas For Your Aquarium
- Pink Tetra Fish Ideas for Your Aquarium
- Red Tetra Fish Ideas for Your Aquarium
- Black Tetra Fish Ideas for Your Aquarium
- Blue Tetra Fish Ideas for Your Aquarium
