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Encyclopedia / Tetras / Sailfin tetra
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Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Sailfin tetra

Crenuchus spilurus · Golden tetra, Sailfin characin

Territorial among its own kind; keep with calm tankmates.

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7 cmBody length, without tail ✓
24–28 °CTemperature ✓
4.5–6.5pH ✓
68 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • Sailfin tetra eats animals up to about 3 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
Not recommended
  • Sailfin tetra eats animals up to about 3 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
Not recommended
  • Sailfin tetra eats animals up to about 3 cm. Ember tetra only grows to 2 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 24 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 6.5.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

233 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓1–5 dGH
Group size ✓2 or more
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ✓Bottom
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Carnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 4–6 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Territorial among its own kind; keep with calm tankmates.

Food

Small frozen and live foods.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Male Sailfin tetra
Male
Female Sailfin tetra
Female

Adult males are larger and more colourful, with greatly extended dorsal and anal fins; females are relatively plain.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Cave spawner · Hard

A cave spawner: the male holds a small territory around a cave (often leaf litter), courts females with fin displays, and alone guards the eggs, which are stuck to the cave roof. Soft, acidic water and live foods help. Leave the eggs with the male, as his presence seems crucial.

Pairing

Keep a pair or group in a tank with caves and clay pots; the male guards the eggs.

Setup

40-60 L tank with soft acidic water (pH 5-6.5), caves, bogwood and floating plants.

What starts it

Soft acidic water, warmth and live food conditioning.

Eggs

About 100 eggs; incubation 36-48 hours, fry free-swimming about 4-6 days later.

Raising the fry

Fry are guarded by the male then fed on infusoria and newly hatched brine shrimp.

Common mistakes
  • Hard water
  • No hiding places
  • Several males in a small tank
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionSouth America – Amazon & Orinoco basins and the Guianas
Rivers and lakesAmazon, Orinoco and Guiana rivers
HabitatShaded forest streams with leaf litter
Native rangeAbout 1,500 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the sailfin tetra

A cave-spawning characin (a South American darter, not a true tetra) from the Amazon, Orinoco and Guiana rivers. Males grow a large, sail-like dorsal fin and guard the eggs.

Albert Günther described this fish in 1863. Males grow a huge, sail-like dorsal fin and guard the eggs in a hidden spot. It is a shy predator of small invertebrates and does best in a quiet, dim tank.

First described by Albert Günther in 1863. Named for 'spilurus' means spotted tail.

  • Males have a huge, colourful dorsal fin.
  • Males guard the eggs until they hatch.
  • It belongs to the South American darter family, Crenuchidae.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources