Aquariumtetra · freshwater
Lemon Tetra: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) grows to about 1.9 in (4 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 31 inches long and about 20 gallons. Keep at least 8 together, at 68–82°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 1.9 in (4 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 31 inches long and about 20 gallons
- Temperature
- 68–82°F
- pH
- 5–7.5
- Hardness
- 1–12 dGH
- Group size
- 8+
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- peaceful
- Swims
- middle of the tank
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- beginner
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: may eat baby shrimp
Lemon Tetra tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- Endler's LivebearerNeeds careLemon Tetra (1–12 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
- Dwarf GouramiNeeds careDwarf Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra.
- BettaNeeds careBetta can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra.
- German Blue RamNeeds careLemon Tetra and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window.
- AngelfishNeeds careAngelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra.
- Cherry ShrimpLemon Tetra may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Amano ShrimpLemon Tetra may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Nerite SnailLemon Tetra (pH 5–7.5) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH.
Avoid
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater grows 7× longer than Lemon Tetra and may treat it as food.
- Common / Comet GoldfishOutgrows tanksCommon / Comet Goldfish eats small fish, and Lemon Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Lemon Tetra is peaceful.
- Electric Blue AcaraNeeds careElectric Blue Acara eats small fish, and Lemon Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in.
- Iridescent SharkOutgrows tanksIridescent Shark eats small fish, and Lemon Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in.
- OscarOutgrows tanksOscar eats small fish, and Lemon Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in.
- Pictus CatfishOutgrows tanksPictus Catfish eats small fish, and Lemon Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in.
- Tinfoil BarbOutgrows tanksTinfoil Barb eats small fish, and Lemon Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in.
All 105 species we checked against the Lemon Tetra
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Assassin Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Discus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Fancy Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pea Puffer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Amano Shrimp | Caution | Lemon Tetra may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Angelfish | Caution | Angelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Caution | Lemon Tetra may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Betta | Caution | Betta can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Caution | Black Skirt Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Caution | Blood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Caution | Lemon Tetra and Boesemani Rainbowfish only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Caution | Buenos Aires Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Caution | Lemon Tetra may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Caution | Lemon Tetra may eat baby Crystal Red Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Dwarf Gourami | Caution | Dwarf Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Electric Yellow Lab can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra.; Lemon Tetra (pH 5–7.5) and Electric Yellow Lab (pH 7.7–8.6) prefer different pH. |
| Endler's Livebearer | Caution | Lemon Tetra (1–12 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Caution | Firemouth Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Caution | Lemon Tetra (1–12 dGH) and Forktail Blue-eye (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| German Blue Ram | Caution | Lemon Tetra and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Caution | Lemon Tetra may eat baby Ghost Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami grows 6× longer than Lemon Tetra and may treat it as food.; Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Molly | Caution | Lemon Tetra (1–12 dGH) and Molly (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Lemon Tetra (pH 5–7.5) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Lemon Tetra (1–12 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Nerite Snail | Caution | Lemon Tetra (pH 5–7.5) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH. |
| Paradise Fish | Caution | Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Rainbow Shark | Caution | Rainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Red-Tail Shark | Caution | Red-Tail Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Caution | Three-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Tiger Barb | Caution | Tiger Barb can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Variatus Platy | Caution | Lemon Tetra (1–12 dGH) and Variatus Platy (14–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach grows 4× longer than Lemon Tetra and may treat it as food.; Yoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful Lemon Tetra. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater grows 7× longer than Lemon Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Lemon Tetra is peaceful. |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Avoid | Common / Comet Goldfish eats small fish, and Lemon Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Lemon Tetra is peaceful. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Avoid | Electric Blue Acara eats small fish, and Lemon Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Lemon Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Oscar eats small fish, and Lemon Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Pictus Catfish | Avoid | Pictus Catfish eats small fish, and Lemon Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Tinfoil Barb | Avoid | Tinfoil Barb eats small fish, and Lemon Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in. |
Care notes
Needs: Requires planted margins with central open swimming space to encourage active foraging
Group: Requires mixed-sex shoals of 8-10 specimens; males establish harmless display sparring
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, peaceful toward its own kind. Lives in the middle of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Lemon Tetra get?
About 1.9 inches (4 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Lemon Tetra need?
At least 31 inches long and about 20 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 40 gallon breeder.
How many Lemon Tetras should be kept together?
At least 8. Requires mixed-sex shoals of 8-10 specimens; males establish harmless display sparring
What fish can live with a Lemon Tetra?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Lemon Tetra setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 40 gallon breeder (36 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 200 W for 40 gallons, holding 68–82°F.Find on Amazon →FoodA quality flake or micro-pellet as a staple.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
As an Amazon Associate, AquariumSetup earns from qualifying purchases. Links open Amazon search results so you can compare current options.
Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/hyphessobrycon-pulchripinnis
- fishbase.se /summary/Hyphessobrycon-pulchripinnis.html