Slender Tetra

The slender tetra, or green line lizard tetra, comes from the Amazon basin in Brazil and is rare in the fish trade. No one has successfully bred this unique species, which is a shame. These expensive little schooling fish are caught along small streams around the border of Colombia and Brazil. The tetra grows to nearly four inches and is peaceful but fast. Slender tetras will eat flake food, but it is advisable to have some frozen brine shrimp on hand, since these are all wild-caught.

This rare aquarium fish is long like a lizard and has a thin reflective green line along the middle of the body.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: These are larger, active schooling fish, so give them open swimming space, plants or driftwood along the back and a tight-fitting lid, since they jump.

Feeding: Feed a quality flake or small pellet once or twice a day. They also enjoy frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Tankmates: They do well with other active, similar-size fish such as larger tetras, barbs, rainbowfish, peaceful cichlids, corydoras and plecos. Very small fish may be eaten or bullied.

Good to know: Larger tetras are hardy and long-lived, and a big school makes a striking display.