
Emperor tetra
Nematobrycon palmeri
Not a school but a neighborhood; males hold a spot and display at rivals.
The Emperor tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Acestrorhamphidae. Adults grow to about 5 cm. In the aquarium it needs a tank at least 90 cm long and water at 22–27 °C.
- Size
- 5 cm
- Smallest tank
- 90 cm
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C
- Care
- Moderate
In the aquarium
Temperature22–27 °C
pH5.5–7.5
Hardness1–12 °dGH
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Activity
- Calm
- Water layer
- Mid water
- Group
- Happiest in a group of 8 or more
- Plants
- Plant safe
These values are compiled from real species data, and the LumaReef simulation is built to keep them true to life.
Which tank it fits
- Nano60 cm · 65 litresToo small
- Standard90 cm · 180 litres51 of them
- Wide120 cm · 300 litres85 of them
- Living room180 cm · 650 litres185 of them
- Showcase250 cm · 1,200 litres342 of them
- Gallery300 cm · 1,440 litres411 of them
Who it lives with
Gets along80 species
- Zebra danio
- Cherry barb
- Platy
- Odessa barb
- Cardinal tetra
- Lemon tetra
- Penguin tetra
- Harlequin rasbora
- Dwarf chain loach
- Black neon tetra
- Black skirt tetra
- Serpae tetra
- Glowlight tetra
- Diamond tetra
- Silver hatchetfish
- Pearl danio
- Tiger barb
- Guppy
- Neon tetra
- Glowlight danio
- Bronze corydoras
- Lambchop rasbora
- Endler's livebearer
- Galaxy rasbora
Caution8 species
Narrow shared temperature range
Not together11 species
Aggressive with peaceful
Water temperatures do not overlap
In the wild
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Climate zone
- Tropical
- Aquarium trade
- Traded commercially
Classification
- OrderCharaciformes
- FamilyAcestrorhamphidae
- GenusNematobrycon
- SpeciesNematobrycon palmeri
- Described byEigenmann, 1911
In other languages
- German
- Kaisersalmler
- Russian
- Королевская тетра
Quick answers
- Emperor tetra size: how big does it get?
- Adults reach about 5 cm. Record sizes among the 13 Acestrorhamphidae species on LumaReef: 2 cm (Ember tetra) to 7.5 cm (Black skirt tetra).
- Emperor tetra tank size: what is the minimum?
- A tank at least 90 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Standard tank or larger.
- Emperor tetra water parameters: what does it need?
- Temperature 22–27 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, hardness 1–12 °dGH. Close to what most Acestrorhamphidae on LumaReef need (23–28 °C).
- Emperor tetra tank mates: what can it live with?
- It gets along with 80 of the 99 freshwater species in the catalogue, such as Zebra danio, Cherry barb, and Platy.
- Emperor tetra: alone or in a group?
- Keep at least 8 together.
- Emperor tetra and plants: is it plant safe?
- Yes, it leaves plants alone.
Similar species
Sources
Emperor tetra: compiled from these references.









