Red Eye Tetra Moenkhausia Sanctaefilomenae 2cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Red Eye Tetra is a robust, silver-bodied shoaling fish with a bright red upper eye and a bold black-and-white tail base. It comes from clear vegetated rivers feeding the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Its hardiness and tolerance of a wide pH range make it well suited to active, larger community aquariums.
- Adult Size: Around 7 cm (2.8 in)
- Lifespan: 5–6 years
Origin
- Native to: Paraguay and Paraná basins: Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina
- Habitat: Clear, densely planted rivers and Pantanal wetland margins
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous
- Preferred Foods: Flake, granules, bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp, blanched vegetables
- Feeding Habits: Feed twice daily in small amounts; include vegetable matter
Tank Mates
- Best with: Larger tetras, barbs, rainbowfish, corydoras, robust cichlids
- Avoid: Slow, long-finned or timid fish such as bettas and guppies
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Active and boisterous but not aggressive
- Territoriality: None; may fin-nip if kept in small groups
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Challenges: Can harass sedate tank mates; needs swimming space
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, adaptable from soft to hard
- Temperature: 22–26°C (72–79°F)
- pH: 6.0–8.0
- Hardness: 3–20 dGH
- Flow: Moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 100 litres; 90 cm long for a group of eight
Final Notes
Buy a group of eight or more; kept in small numbers this species turns to fin-nipping, but a proper shoal keeps that behaviour within the group. It grows larger and swims harder than most tetras, so allow open water alongside planted cover. Breeding is by egg scattering in soft, warm water, and ripe females are visibly rounder. Undemanding and adaptable, it is one of the most forgiving tetras for a new community tank.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.