Gold tetra
Hemigrammus rodwayi
- Adult size
- 4 cm1 in
- Group
- 8+
- Tank length
- 22 cm9 in
- Lifespan
- 3–5 yrs
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C75–81 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 1–15 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
The gold sheen comes from a skin reaction to parasites in wild fish and often fades in captivity; a lively shoaler.The gold sheen comes from a skin reaction to parasites in wild fish and often fades in captivity; a lively shoaler.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Brevis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Caudopunctatus
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Multies
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Pindani
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Rusty cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Saulosi cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Similis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Afra cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat Gold tetraAfrican knifefish may eat Gold tetra
- African pike
African pike may eat Gold tetraAfrican pike may eat Gold tetra
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Gold tetraAlligator gar may eat Gold tetra
Sources
| temperature | 24–27 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 5.5–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Guianas and lower Amazon | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | The gold sheen comes from a skin reaction to parasites in wild fish and often fa | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | easy | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #D4AF37, #C46A2E, #E8E0C8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 3–5 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.012,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | tetra | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |