Vampire Tetra
Characidae sp.
The Vampire Tetra (Characidae sp.) is an aggressive fish that's best left to experienced keepers. Give it a tank of at least 700 litres (185 US gallons), water held at 75-82°F, and a pH of 5.5-7.5. Always keep a group of at least 6 - they feel safest in numbers.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Mostly South America
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Vampire Tetra Tank Setup
Treat 700 litres (185 US gallons) as a starting point - big predators need length, strong filtration, and a secure lid. Hold the water at 75-82°F and pH 5.5-7.5, and assume anything small enough to swallow will eventually be eaten. Always keep a group of at least 6 of their own kind - kept alone or in pairs they tend to turn shy, nippy, or wash out in colour. They grow to around 30 cm, so plan the tank size and filtration for a full-grown adult rather than the small juvenile you see in the shop.
What Do Vampire Tetras Eat?
They have small mouths, so stick to small foods: crushed flake, fine granules, and now and then a treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Anything too large simply gets ignored.
Vampire Tetra Tank Mates
Large aggressive piscivore; will eat fish up to half its size. Keep alone or with only the largest robust species. Requires live/meaty food. The Vampire Tetra is aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a known fin-nipper, so avoid bettas, guppies, and other slow, long-finned fish. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. It's a shoaling fish, so settle a group of 6 or more of its own kind before adding anything else - a stressed, lonely fish is far more likely to nip or hide. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Vampire Tetras Good for Beginners?
Not a sensible first purchase. Get the tank cycled, keep easier fish stable for a year, then revisit if you still want the extra work this species demands.
Vampire Tetra - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Vampire Tetras need?
Vampire Tetras need a tank of at least 700 litres (185 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
How many Vampire Tetras should I keep together?
Keep a group of at least 6. Vampire Tetras are a shoaling species and become stressed, lose their colour, or hide when kept singly or in pairs.
What water parameters do Vampire Tetras need?
Keep them at 75-82°F with a pH of 5.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Vampire Tetras eat?
Vampire Tetras have small mouths, so they need small foods. Crushed flake and fine granules form the staple, with the occasional treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Vampire Tetras good for beginners?
Vampire Tetras are not a beginner species. They need precise conditions and consistent maintenance, so build experience with hardier fish before keeping them.
Common mistakes with Vampire Tetras
- Buying fewer than 6 - Vampire Tetras need a proper school to feel secure; isolated individuals hide, fail to colour up, or become stressed.
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 700 litres (185 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
- Mixing with long-finned fish - Vampire Tetras will nip at bettas, angelfish, and other fish with flowing fins, causing stress and infection risk.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Vampire Tetras
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Cardinal TetraSize risk - Vampire Tetras will likely eat Cardinal Tetra at adult size
- Bronze CoryIncompatible temperament or care requirements
