Home · Characidae · Emperor tetra
Emperor tetra (Bryconamericus emperador) — Characidae

Emperor tetra

Bryconamericus emperador
Family: Characidae

The Emperor tetra (Bryconamericus emperador) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10.4 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
South America: Colombia, Panama

Want the complete picture on the Emperor tetra?

Get the app

Description

The Emperor tetra is a small characin (Characidae) from fresh water of Panama and Costa Rica in Central America. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a slender, silvery body, often with a fine dark longitudinal stripe and a spot on the tail base. As a schooling fish it swims in clear, flowing streams and rivers and eats small insects, larvae, algae and detritus. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Emperor tetra?

The Emperor tetra has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Emperor tetra live?

The Emperor tetra lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. South America: Colombia, Panama

How big does the Emperor tetra get?

The Emperor tetra grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Emperor tetra dangerous to humans?

No, the Emperor tetra is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Emperor tetra?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Emperor tetra is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Emperor tetra sourced
Scientific name
Bryconamericus emperador
Family
Characidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.4 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
South America: Colombia, Panama sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Bryconamericus

More from the family Characidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Emperor tetra?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Emperor tetra is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Emperor tetra? Get the app