Care and Compatibility of Emperor Tetra - Nematobrycon Palmeri


Introduction

The Emperor Tetra is known for its striking coloration and long, pointed dorsal fin. It has a silver body with a black stripe on the upper part and a red stripe on the lower part that extends from the head to the caudal fin. Males usually have more intense colors and longer fins than females.

Behavior

The Emperor Tetra, also known as Nematobrycon palmeri, is a tropical fish found in the river basins of South America. They are peaceful and sociable fish that tend to form groups in the aquarium. They have an active behavior and enjoy swimming in the middle and upper parts of the aquarium. They are compatible with other fish species of similar size and peaceful temperament.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in Nematobrycon palmeri is minimal and difficult to distinguish. Both males and females have a similar appearance outside of the breeding season. During breeding, males may show slightly more intense colors.

Reproduction

The reproduction of the Emperor Tetra is possible in well-established aquariums with proper conditions. To encourage breeding, a varied diet and slightly acidic, soft water can be provided. Males chase females and perform a courtship ritual where they swim together. The female deposits eggs on plants or other substrates, and the males fertilize the eggs. After spawning, it is advisable to remove the adults from the breeding tank as they may eat the eggs.

Aquarium Conditions

Nematobrycon palmeri, commonly known as the emperor tetra, requires a well-planted aquarium with open swimming areas. It prefers slightly acidic to neutral water and a warm temperature. Aquarium décor should include soft plants and hiding spots. Maintaining water quality is crucial and providing a balanced diet.

Feeding

They are omnivorous fish and accept a variety of foods in their diet. They can be provided with commercial foods in the form of flakes or pellets, as well as live and frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, daphnia, and brine shrimp. It is recommended to offer them a balanced diet that includes both vegetable and protein-based foods.

Complexity

Caring for Nematobrycon palmeri can be moderately challenging. They are peaceful and active fish that adapt well to a variety of water conditions. However, they are sensitive to poor water quality and require regular water changes. They are omnivores and accept a variety of foods, but prefer live and frozen foods.


In case you need more help, or if you want to know into any topic related to the Nematobrycon Palmeri (Emperor Tetra) and even any other species you can use the forums to ask what you need.

To do an analysis more detailed about coexistence and behavior of Nematobrycon Palmeri (Emperor Tetra) use the Aquarium simulation tool, if you do this you can test different ways to combine the Emperor Tetra with other fishes giving the dimensions and space on you aquarium, on this way you can known the optimal configuration for keep the fishes that you want.

You can also find out the 106 species compatible with the Nematobrycon Palmeri (Emperor Tetra) can live together.

Note: The parameters of the water such as PH and temperature are also used to calculate the compatibility of the species.


Compatible species (106)

Compatible (70 Species)

Compatible without any restriction


Striped Raphael Catfish - Platydoras costatus

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras costatus

Golden Royal Pleco - Sturisoma aureum

Golden Royal Pleco

Sturisoma aureum

Silver Dollar Fish - Metynnis argenteus

Silver Dollar Fish

Metynnis argenteus

Coolie loach - Pangio kuhlii

Coolie loach

Pangio kuhlii

Swordtail fish - Xiphophorus hellerii

Swordtail fish

Xiphophorus hellerii

Pearl gourami - Trichogaster leerii

Pearl gourami

Trichogaster leerii

Molly fish - Poecilia sphenops

Molly fish

Poecilia sphenops

Butterfly Loach - Beaufortia leveretti

Butterfly Loach

Beaufortia leveretti

Yoyo Loach - Botia almorhae

Yoyo Loach

Botia almorhae

Guppy fish - Poecilia reticulata

Guppy fish

Poecilia reticulata

Tiger Barb - Puntius tetrazona

Tiger Barb

Puntius tetrazona

German Blue Ram - Microgeophagus ramirezi

German Blue Ram

Microgeophagus ramirezi

Bleeding Heart Tetra - Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Bleeding Heart Tetra

Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Dwarf marbled catfish - Microglanis poecilus

Dwarf marbled catfish

Microglanis poecilus

Hatchet Fish - Thoracocharax stellatus

Hatchet Fish

Thoracocharax stellatus

Glassy Perchlet - Parambassis ranga

Glassy Perchlet

Parambassis ranga

Platy Fish - Xiphophorus maculatus

Platy Fish

Xiphophorus maculatus

Red-eyed Tetra - Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Red-eyed Tetra

Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Apple Snail - Pomacea bridgesii

Apple Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

Female Siamese Fighting Fish - Betta Splendens Female

Female Siamese Fighting Fish

Betta Splendens Female

Male siamese fighting fish - betta splendens male

Male siamese fighting fish

betta splendens male

Dwarf Gourami - Colisa lalia

Dwarf Gourami

Colisa lalia

Zebrafish - Danio rerio

Zebrafish

Danio rerio

Black Skirt Tetra - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Black Skirt Tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Harlequin Rasbora - Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Harlequin Rasbora

Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Otocinclus Catfish - Otocinclus Affinis

Otocinclus Catfish

Otocinclus Affinis

Ember Tetra - Hemigrammus Rhodostomus

Ember Tetra

Hemigrammus Rhodostomus

Serpae Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Eques

Serpae Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Eques

Glowlight Tetra - Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Glowlight Tetra

Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Black Neon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Black Neon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Neon tetra fish - Paracheirodon innesi

Neon tetra fish

Paracheirodon innesi

Galaxy Rasbora - Danio margaritatus

Galaxy Rasbora

Danio margaritatus

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid - Nannacara anomala

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid

Nannacara anomala

Ember Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Ruby Tetra - Axelrodia riesei

Ruby Tetra

Axelrodia riesei

Green Neon Tetra - Paracheirodon Simulans

Green Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon Simulans

Three lined Pencilfish - Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Three lined Pencilfish

Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Boraras Brigittae Fish - Boraras Brigittae

Boraras Brigittae Fish

Boraras Brigittae

Cherry Barb - Barbus titteya

Cherry Barb

Barbus titteya

Filamented Rainbowfish - Iriatherina Werneri

Filamented Rainbowfish

Iriatherina Werneri

Endler Guppy Fish - Poecilia Wingei

Endler Guppy Fish

Poecilia Wingei

Caridina Shrimp - Caridina cf. Cantonensis

Caridina Shrimp

Caridina cf. Cantonensis

Black Phantom Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Black Phantom Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Espei Rasbora - Trigonostigma espei

Espei Rasbora

Trigonostigma espei

Forktail Blue-Eye - Pseudomugil furcatus

Forktail Blue-Eye

Pseudomugil furcatus

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil - Pseudomugil paskai

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil

Pseudomugil paskai

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid - Apistogramma viejita

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma viejita

Clown Pleco - Panaqolus maccus

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

Pictus Catfish - Pimelodus pictus

Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

Royal Pleco - Panaque nigrolineatus

Royal Pleco

Panaque nigrolineatus

Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Lacustris Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia lacustris

Lacustris Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia lacustris

Dwarf Tetra - Hasemania nana

Dwarf Tetra

Hasemania nana

Preacox Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia preacox

Preacox Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia preacox

Semifasciolatus Barb - Puntius semifasciolatus

Semifasciolatus Barb

Puntius semifasciolatus

Moenkhausia Pittieri - Moenkhausia pittieri

Moenkhausia Pittieri

Moenkhausia pittieri

Stiphodon Ornatus - Stiphodon ornatus

Stiphodon Ornatus

Stiphodon ornatus

Red Cherry - Neocaridina davidi

Red Cherry

Neocaridina davidi

Amano Shrimp - Caridina multidentata

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Blue Bee Shrimp - Paracaridina sp

Blue Bee Shrimp

Paracaridina sp

Bamboo Shrimp - Atyopsis moluccensis

Bamboo Shrimp

Atyopsis moluccensis

Red-Backed Tetra - Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Red-Backed Tetra

Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Lemon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Lemon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Cardinal Tetra - Paracheirodon axelrodi

Cardinal Tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Medaka Fish - Oryzias latipes

Medaka Fish

Oryzias latipes

Dwarf Swordtail - Heterandria formosa

Dwarf Swordtail

Heterandria formosa

El tetra emperador es un pez de cardumen por lo que necesita convivir con otros ejemplares de su misma especie.


Emperor Tetra - Nematobrycon Palmeri

Emperor Tetra

Nematobrycon Palmeri

Similar Sizes (14 Species)

They can coexist if they are the same size or very similar sizes, it does not work in all cases, there may be exceptions.


Veil tail Goldfish - Carassius auratus I

Veil tail Goldfish

Carassius auratus I

Telescope goldfish - Carassius auratus II

Telescope goldfish

Carassius auratus II

Clown Loach - Chromobotia macracanthus

Clown Loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

Comet Goldfish - Carassius auratus III

Comet Goldfish

Carassius auratus III

Galaxy Plecostomus - Leporacanthicus sp L240

Galaxy Plecostomus

Leporacanthicus sp L240

Severum Cichlid - Heros efasciatus

Severum Cichlid

Heros efasciatus

Celestial eye goldfish - Carassius auratus V

Celestial eye goldfish

Carassius auratus V

Boeseman's Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia Boesemani

Boeseman's Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia Boesemani

Denison Barb - Puntius denisonii

Denison Barb

Puntius denisonii

Empire Gudgeon - Hypseleotris compressa

Empire Gudgeon

Hypseleotris compressa

Stick Catfish - Farlowella acus

Stick Catfish

Farlowella acus

Red Rainbowfish - Glossolepis incisus

Red Rainbowfish

Glossolepis incisus

Altum Angelfish - Pterophyllum altum

Altum Angelfish

Pterophyllum altum

Weather Loach - Misgurnus spp

Weather Loach

Misgurnus spp

With Reservation (8 Species)

Compatible in some cases, it depends on the nature and personality of the fish.


Discus fish - Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Discus fish

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis eupterus

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis eupterus

Freshwater angelfish - Pterophyllum scalare

Freshwater angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Siamese Algae Eater - Crossocheilus Siamensis

Siamese Algae Eater

Crossocheilus Siamensis

Firemouth Cichlid - Cichlasoma meeki

Firemouth Cichlid

Cichlasoma meeki

Leopard Cactus Pleco - Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Leopard Cactus Pleco

Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Paradise Fish - Macropodus Opercularis

Paradise Fish

Macropodus Opercularis

Considerable size difference (1 Species)

They can coexist while they are similar in size or the size difference is not very abysmal, since as the fish grows it increases the chances of eating its partner that did not grow much.


Suckermouth catfish - Hypostomus plecostomus

Suckermouth catfish

Hypostomus plecostomus

Food competition (9 Species)

They can live together but you have to be careful since it is likely that the fastest fish will take all the food and leave nothing for their partners who are slow swimmers, so you have to make sure that everyone can eat.


Glass Catfish - Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Glass Catfish

Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis nigriventris

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis nigriventris

Anentome Helena - Anentome helena

Anentome Helena

Anentome helena

IndoPlanorbis Exustus - Planorbis planorbis

IndoPlanorbis Exustus

Planorbis planorbis

Horned Snail - Tyloperlamania sp

Horned Snail

Tyloperlamania sp

Florida Dwarf Crayfish - Cambarellus diminutus

Florida Dwarf Crayfish

Cambarellus diminutus

Spotted Dora Catfish - Agamyxus pectinifrons

Spotted Dora Catfish

Agamyxus pectinifrons

Pearlscale Goldfish - Carassius auratus VI

Pearlscale Goldfish

Carassius auratus VI

Pez ventosa de borneo - Sewellia lineolata

Pez ventosa de borneo

Sewellia lineolata

Compatible if space is enough (4 Species)

They can coexist together if the aquarium they share is large and spacious enough for both species to feel good, as some fish may attack others to feel that they have little space and try to eliminate the competition.


Kribensis Cichlid - Pelvicachromis pulcher

Kribensis Cichlid

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Dwarf Cichlid - Apistogramma borellii

Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma borellii

Myanmar Darío - Dario sp Myanmar

Myanmar Darío

Dario sp Myanmar

Filamentous Tetra - Dicrossus filamentosus

Filamentous Tetra

Dicrossus filamentosus

Emperor Tetra

Nematobrycon Palmeri

Emperor Tetra - Nematobrycon Palmeri
  • Ph: 5.1 - 7.4
  • Temperature (c°): 23 - 27
  • Measures: 5 cm - 6cm
  • Aquarium Capacity:
    9 Liters - 2 Gallons
  • Alimentación: Omnivores
  • Colores: Orange, Red, Silver
  • Comportamiento: Active, Peaceful, Shoal
  • Habitad: American
  • Preferencias del Acuario: Natural plants, Rocks, Sand
  • Tamaño: Small
  • Taxonomía: Fish
  • Tipo de Agua: Sweet water, Tropical waters
  • Velocidad de nado o movimiento: Fast
  • Zona de Nado: Swim in the middle of the aquarium