Red Phantom Tetra

Red Phantom Tetra key facts

Care level

Beginner-friendly

Lifespan

3-5 years

Size

Up to 3.2cm SL

Temperature

20〜28℃

Diet

Dried, frozen and live foods

Tank

Seriously Fish suggests an 80 x 30cm base of about 72 litres and FishBase a minimum length of 60cm. A dark substrate with dense planting and floating plants or driftwood to soften the light deepens the red, and open space lets the males display.

Water Temperature & Quality

Seriously Fish gives 20-28C, pH 4.5-7.5 and 1-12 dGH, while FishBase records pH 5.5-7.5, up to 20 dH and 20-23C. Its natural water is soft and acidic, and the red shows best in conditions approaching blackwater.

Tank Mates

Very peaceful and a good community fish, suiting similarly sized characins, hatchetfish, pencilfish, smaller Corydoras and loricariids, and non-predatory small to medium cichlids. Keep a mixed-sex group of eight to ten or more.

Diet & Feeding

It feeds on worms, small insects and crustaceans. Dried food is taken readily, and frozen bloodworm or Artemia improves both condition and the depth of red. The mouth is small, so choose fine-grained foods.

Breeding & Spawning

An egg scatterer with no parental care that spawns often in good condition. For numbers use a dimly lit separate tank with mesh or fine-leaved plants the eggs can fall into and remove the adults afterwards. Males are easy to tell by their extended dorsal and anal fins.

Health & Notes

It is farmed commercially in several countries and wild fish are relatively scarce in the trade. The depth of red differs between strains, so look at the actual fish if colour matters. The IUCN rates it Least Concern and it is not listed by CITES.

About Red Phantom Tetra

Red Phantom Tetra: a small, peaceful characin with a translucent red body and black shoulder spot. Beginner-friendly, shoals beautifully, and tops out around 3.2 cm.

7 things to know before welcoming a Red Phantom Tetra

1. 1Enjoy Them in a Group

   The Red Phantom Tetra shows its best colors and calmest behavior when kept in a group. In small numbers it tends to stay hidden, so bringing home several at once makes it much easier to enjoy their shoaling display.

2. 2Peaceful, Community-Friendly

   This fish is peaceful and rarely aggressive, making it a good match for other calm fish of similar size. Avoid pairing it with fast or boisterous species, since it can struggle to compete for food.

3. 3Sexes Differ With Growth

   Males develop long, flowing dorsal and anal fins, while females have a rounder body with more depth. These differences become clearer as the fish mature, so sexing juveniles can be difficult.

4. 4Red Intensity Varies

   The depth of red coloring differs between individuals, likely linked to their place of origin, and especially vivid strains are sometimes sold under their own name. Even within "Red Phantom Tetra," the overall color impression can vary depending on the individual you choose.

5. 5Shines in a Planted Tank

   The translucent red body stands out beautifully against a backdrop of lush green plants. Keeping them as a shoal in a planted layout brings out the color contrast even more.

6. 6A Small Species, ~3.2 cm

   This species tops out at around 3.2 cm even at full size, so you can enjoy a shoal without needing a large tank. Being small, it's also more sensitive to sudden changes in water quality, so consistent care matters.

7. 7Prepare the Tank First

   Before bringing them home, make sure your tank is cycled and the water parameters are stable. Introduce them gradually through a slow acclimation process rather than dropping them straight into a new tank, to reduce stress from the environmental change.

Frequently asked questions about Red Phantom Tetra

Q.Is the Red Phantom Tetra suitable for beginners?

A.Yes, it's generally considered a beginner-friendly species. Its calm temperament and ease of keeping in a group make it a good choice for first-time tropical fish keepers.

Q.How big does it grow?

A.It's a small species that tops out at around 3.2 cm. That compact size makes it easy to keep a shoal even without a large tank.

Q.How many should I keep together?

A.Since it's a shoaling fish, keeping several together brings out its natural behavior and appearance. Kept in very small numbers, it tends to hide more.

Q.Can it live with other fish?

A.It has a peaceful temperament and does well with other calm, similarly sized tank mates. Be cautious pairing it with fast, aggressive feeders, as it may struggle to compete for food.

Q.Why do some individuals look more red than others?

A.The depth of the red coloring varies between individuals, apparently linked to their origin. Particularly vivid strains are sometimes sold under their own name, so color intensity can differ from fish to fish.

Useful tools for Red Phantom Tetra care

Learn more about Red Phantom Tetra in the encyclopedia

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