Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri)

The Emperor Tetra has a genuinely majestic appearance, and an affable personality to match.

This species is peaceful, active and tranquil and rarely shows aggression, though the male will compete with other males. It can be kept with many different species but avoid putting it with more abundant species, or it may be seen as food. It will fare much better when in the company of its own kind though.

The original Emperor Tetras are royal blue and purple and vibrant yellow, which shifts back and forth and shimmers. They also display a stripe that blends out into purple or blue that lightens near the fins and tail, which are yellow.

The Emporer tetras come in 4 other varieties which include Rainbow, Blue, Black and Red.

Photos

Feeding

In the home aquarium, the Emperor Tetra will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.

Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.

It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.

This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.