Aquariumtetra · freshwater
Serpae Tetra: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Serpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques) grows to about 1.9 in (4 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 31 inches long and about 19 gallons. Keep at least 12 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.
Needs special care. Routinely sold in small numbers as a community fish; nips fins of bettas, angelfish and other long-finned or slow tankmates.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 1.9 in (4 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 31 inches long and about 19 gallons
- Temperature
- 68–82°F
- pH
- 5–7.5
- Hardness
- 1–15 dGH
- Group size
- 12+
- With other fish
- semi-aggressive
- With its own kind
- semi-aggressive
- Swims
- middle of the tank
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- intermediate
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: nips fins · eats shrimp
Serpae 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
- 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
- Lemon TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 68–82°F
- PlatyAdult ~2.4 in · 68–79°F
- Bolivian RamAdult ~3.8 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- Ember TetraSerpae Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Ember Tetra.
- Chili RasboraSerpae Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Chili Rasbora.
- Celestial Pearl DanioSerpae Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Celestial Pearl Danio.
- GuppySerpae Tetra nips fins, and Guppy has long fins.
- Endler's LivebearerNeeds careSerpae Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Endler's Livebearer.
- Honey GouramiSerpae Tetra nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins.
- Dwarf GouramiNeeds careSerpae Tetra nips fins, and Dwarf Gourami has long fins.
- Pearl GouramiSerpae Tetra nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins.
Avoid
- BettaNeeds careSerpae Tetra nips fins, and Betta has long fins.
- Cherry ShrimpSerpae Tetra will eat Cherry Shrimp.
- Amano ShrimpSerpae Tetra will eat Amano Shrimp.
- Bamboo ShrimpSerpae Tetra will eat Bamboo Shrimp.
- Common / Comet GoldfishOutgrows tanksCommon / Comet Goldfish eats small fish, and Serpae Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in.
- Crystal Red ShrimpSerpae Tetra will eat Crystal Red Shrimp.
- Electric Blue AcaraNeeds careElectric Blue Acara eats small fish, and Serpae Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in.
- Ghost ShrimpSerpae Tetra will eat Ghost Shrimp.
All 105 species we checked against the Serpae 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 |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | 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 |
| Convict Cichlid | 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 |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Forktail Blue-eye | 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 |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | 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 |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Molly | 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 |
| Paradise Fish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pea Puffer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | 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 |
| Rainbow Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Red-Tail Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | 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 |
| Three-spot Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Variatus Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Angelfish | Caution | Serpae Tetra nips fins, and Angelfish has long fins. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Caution | Serpae Tetra and Boesemani Rainbowfish only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Caution | Serpae Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Celestial Pearl Danio. |
| Chili Rasbora | Caution | Serpae Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Chili Rasbora. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Caution | Chinese Algae Eater grows 7× longer than Serpae Tetra and may treat it as food. |
| Congo Tetra | Caution | Serpae Tetra nips fins, and Congo Tetra has long fins. |
| Dwarf Gourami | Caution | Serpae Tetra nips fins, and Dwarf Gourami has long fins. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Serpae Tetra (pH 5–7.5) and Electric Yellow Lab (pH 7.7–8.6) prefer different pH. |
| Ember Tetra | Caution | Serpae Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Ember Tetra. |
| Endler's Livebearer | Caution | Serpae Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful Endler's Livebearer. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Caution | Serpae Tetra nips fins, and Fancy Goldfish has long fins. |
| German Blue Ram | Caution | Serpae Tetra and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Guppy | Caution | Serpae Tetra nips fins, and Guppy has long fins. |
| Honey Gourami | Caution | Serpae Tetra nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami grows 6× longer than Serpae Tetra and may treat it as food. |
| Moonlight Gourami | Caution | Serpae Tetra nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Serpae Tetra (pH 5–7.5) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Serpae Tetra (1–15 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Nerite Snail | Caution | Serpae Tetra (pH 5–7.5) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH. |
| Pearl Gourami | Caution | Serpae Tetra nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach grows 4× longer than Serpae Tetra and may treat it as food. |
| Amano Shrimp | Avoid | Serpae Tetra will eat Amano Shrimp. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Avoid | Serpae Tetra will eat Bamboo Shrimp. |
| Betta | Avoid | Serpae Tetra nips fins, and Betta has long fins. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Avoid | Serpae Tetra will eat Cherry Shrimp. |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Avoid | Common / Comet Goldfish eats small fish, and Serpae Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Avoid | Serpae Tetra will eat Crystal Red Shrimp. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Avoid | Electric Blue Acara eats small fish, and Serpae Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Avoid | Serpae Tetra will eat Ghost Shrimp. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Serpae Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Oscar eats small fish, and Serpae Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Pictus Catfish | Avoid | Pictus Catfish eats small fish, and Serpae Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in. |
| Tinfoil Barb | Avoid | Tinfoil Barb eats small fish, and Serpae Tetra only grows to about 1.9 in. |
Care notes
Needs: Notorious fin nipper: keep 12+ and only with robust tankmates; not with shy, slow or long-finned fish (bettas, angelfish, fancy guppies)
Group: SF: at least 12 is the minimum; 12-15 in the minimum tank with no other upper-water species; nipping worse in small groups
Temperament: semi-aggressive toward other fish, semi-aggressive toward its own kind. Lives in the middle of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Serpae Tetra get?
About 1.9 inches (4 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Serpae Tetra need?
At least 31 inches long and about 19 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 40 gallon breeder.
How many Serpae Tetras should be kept together?
At least 12. SF: at least 12 is the minimum; 12-15 in the minimum tank with no other upper-water species; nipping worse in small groups
What fish can live with a Serpae Tetra?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Cherry Barb, Rummy-nose Tetra, Black Neon Tetra.
Gear for a Serpae 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 →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: researched from source pages. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/hyphessobrycon-eques/
- fishbase.se /summary/Hyphessobrycon-eques.html