RAINBOW EMPEROR TETRA (Nematrobrycon lacortei)

The Rainbow Emperor Tetra or Lacortei Tetra is a mid-size, beautifully colored schooling characin found in the Choco region of Colombia, in the waters of the Rio San Juan and its tributaries. In the wild it generally inhabits shallow, slow moving stretches of river or flooded forest area, usually close to submerged vegetation. This species is superficially similar to the more well known Emperor Tetra (N. palmeri) when young, but adults develop an unmistakable iridescent pattern above the lateral stripe with shades of red, pink, and green. Adult fish are easy to sex, with males displaying a distinct deep red eye and typically more intense coloration and elongated streamers on the caudal fin. In the aquarium, they are hardy and adaptable, perfect for most medium community aquariums or planted/aquascaped tanks. Like most tetras they should be kept in groups of at least 5.

Rainbow Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon lacortei) – Group of 5 Fish

Origin: Wild Colombia
Locale: Choco Region
Diet: Omnivore and micropredator, will accept almost all frozen and prepared foods
Adult Size: 2″
Recommended Tank Size: 15 gallons
Compatibility: Generally peaceful, can be a bit aggressive toward smaller tetras or rasboras

Preferred Water Parameters
pH:                          6.5 – 7.4
Temp:                     76-82F
Ammonia:              0ppm
Nitrite:                    0ppm
Nitrate:                  <30ppm