X-ray tetra care
Pristella maxillaris · Amazon and Orinoco basins and coastal rivers of the Guianas
X-ray tetras have see-through bodies and yellow, black and white striped fins.
- Tank size
- 15 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 75 to 82 °F (24 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- 6 or more
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Adult size
- 1.8 in
- pH
- 6 to 8
- Hardness (GH)
- 2 to 20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 4 to 5 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Care level
- Easy
In a 15 gallon
24¼ × 12½ × 12¾ in outsideHow to keep X-ray tetras
X-ray tetras have see-through bodies and yellow, black and white striped fins. They are hardy, adapt to soft or hard water and suit a 15 gallon or larger community tank in a group of six or more.
Diet: Omnivore: flakes, micro pellets, frozen foods. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Middle of the tank.
X-ray tetra tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Endler's livebearer
1.8 in · 10+ gal · 72–82 °F
Bandit corydoras
1.9 in · 20+ gal · 72–79 °F
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
1.7 in · 20+ gal · 75–84 °F
Honey gourami
2 in · 10+ gal · 72–82 °F
Shell-dweller cichlid
2 in · 10+ gal · 75–80 °F
Otocinclus
2 in · 20+ gal · 72–79 °F
Forktail blue-eye rainbowfish
2 in · 10+ gal · 72–80 °F
Amano shrimp
2 in · 10+ gal · 68–80 °F
Keep apart
White cloud mountain minnow: No shared temperature: X-ray tetras need 75 to 82 °F, white cloud mountain minnows 64 to 72 °F.
Angelfish: Adult angelfish eat fish under about 2 in; X-ray tetras grow to 1.8 in.
Pea puffer: Pea puffers belong in a tank of their own.
Fancy goldfish: Adult fancy goldfish eat fish under about 2 in; X-ray tetras grow to 1.8 in.
Convict cichlid: Convict cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as X-ray tetras.
Golden wonder killifish: Adult golden wonder killifish eat fish under about 2 in; X-ray tetras grow to 1.8 in.
What a X-ray tetra tank needs
A tank of 15 US gallons or more (such as the 15 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below.
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Aquarium Co-Op Easy Flow Sponge Filter, Small
A sponge filter gives gentle flow and cannot pull in small fish. It runs from an air pump, with airline tubing and a check valve, all sold separately.
Aqueon QuietFlow Internal Power Filter 5–15 gal
Rated by the maker for 5–15 US gal, which covers a 15 gallon X-ray tetra tank without being built for a far bigger one.
hygger AquaFall Aquarium Filter, M
Rated by the maker for 12–17 US gal, which covers a 15 gallon X-ray tetra tank without being built for a far bigger one.
hygger Precise Aquarium Heater 100W
X-ray tetras need 75 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding X-ray tetras.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 75 to 82 °F.
We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common X-ray tetra problems
- Rarely troubled; a pale, hiding group usually needs more of its own kind.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Pristella maxillaris. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- X-ray tetra Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Endler's livebearer Dgrummon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Bandit corydoras Gonzalo Valenzuela, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid Cisamarc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Honey gourami Antoon Dommerholt (Dutch Wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Shell-dweller cichlid Richard A. Ingebrigtsen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Otocinclus CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Forktail blue-eye rainbowfish Dirk Godlinski, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Amano shrimp Stefanie Leuker, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- White cloud mountain minnow Petrtyl, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Angelfish Citron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pea puffer Beta Mahatvaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Fancy goldfish Benson Kua, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Convict cichlid S. Olkowicz, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Golden wonder killifish Marrabbio2, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Neon tetra Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black neon tetra Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
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