Freshwater Fish
Red-Eye Tetra.
The red eye tetra is a hardy, silver South American schooling fish named for the vivid red crescent above its eye. Keep a group of six or more in a 30-gallon-plus tank and they cruise mid-water all day — mild fin-nippers in small numbers, well-behaved in a proper school.
We keep this species at our Erie store. Come and see it in the tanks, or call (814) 456-9445 and ask what we have in right now.
Sea Cave keeps this species. You will find these in the tanks at 660 East 14th Street in Erie. We never ship live animals.
- Condition
- new
- Fulfillment
- Local pickup — Erie, PA
We never ship fish, coral, or invertebrates — every animal here is one you meet in person. Each one is acclimated and health-checked in-house before it goes out into the display tanks. This is a species we keep, and what is swimming on any given day changes with the deliveries, so please call (814) 456-9445 before you drive in.
Care at a glance
What to know before you take one home.
- Temperament
- Semi aggressive
- Adult size
- 2.8"
- Min tank size
- 30 gallons
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Scientific name
- Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae
Good tank mates
The red-eye tetra is a hardy, active schooling fish that does best in a group of six or more, which also tempers its mild nippiness. It mixes well with other active, similarly-sized community fish.
Good to know
The red-eye tetra is named for the bright red crescent above its eye and comes from river basins in South America.
What is in the tanks and each animal's temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for pairing advice.
Good tankmates
Plays well with.
Species we’d keep in the same tank, with why each pairing works. What is in the tanks and each animal’s temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for advice on pairing.
New to stocking a tank? Read our guide on which fish live together.
Bronze Cory
Peaceful armored bottom-dwellers that occupy a different tank zone; Seriously Fish explicitly lists Corydoras catfish as good companions for M. sanctaefilomenae with no aggression or parameter conflicts.
Harlequin Rasbora
Active mid-water schooling fish of similar size (~2 inches) and compatible temperament; Seriously Fish lists 'larger rasboras' as excellent choices for this species, and Harlequins fit that description with overlapping water parameters.
Zebra Danio
Seriously Fish explicitly endorses 'most danionins' as excellent companions for M. sanctaefilomenae; Danio rerio is the prototypical danionin, active and fast enough to hold its own alongside the boisterous red-eye tetra.
Cherry Barb
Seriously Fish lists 'barbs' as excellent companions for red-eye tetras; cherry barbs are the genuinely peaceful exception in the barb family with no meaningful fin-nipping reputation, compatible size, and overlapping water parameters.
- Y
Yoyo Loach
Seriously Fish explicitly names 'botiine loaches' as suitable bottom-dwelling companions for M. sanctaefilomenae; Botia almorhae is a botiine loach. While yoyo loaches can nip slow, long-finned fish, active short-finned red-eye tetras are not typical targets. A properly sized community tank (40+ gallons) satisfies both species.
Visit the store
660 East 14th Street,
Erie, PA.
Mon–Fri 12–6 · Sat 11–4 · Sun closed. Call ahead on livestock — what's on the floor rotates.