Purple Emperor Tetra

Purple, black and blue distinctive fins create a visual treat for this mid-level schooling fish. Purple emperor tetras do not like to be chased and are prone to disease if stressed, so do not keep these with semi-aggressive community fish. The purple emperor tetra is also called the black emperor tetra in the aquarium trade, but that is confusing, since there is another emperor tetra called the blue-eye black emperor that has a darker body and blue eyes, and no purple. These guys are purple.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Give them plants along the back and sides, open swimming space in front and a dark substrate, which brings out their color. Keep a lid on the tank, since tetras can jump.

Feeding: Feed a quality flake or small pellet once or twice a day, only as much as they eat in a couple of minutes. They also enjoy frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Tankmates: They get along with most peaceful community fish of similar size, such as other tetras, rasboras, danios, corydoras, dwarf cichlids, gouramis and livebearers.

Good to know: Tetras feel safer and show better color in a group. A larger school also spreads out any chasing.