Freshwater Fish
Serpae Tetra.
The serpae tetra is a deep-red schooling fish with black fin edging that reads well against plants — striking, cheap, and notorious for nipping. Keep six or more in a 20-gallon-plus planted tank and they focus the energy on each other; pair them with armored or fast-moving tankmates, not long-finned fish.
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
- 1.75"
- Min tank size
- 20 gallons
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Scientific name
- Hyphessobrycon callistus
Good tank mates
Serpae tetras are notorious fin-nippers, so keep them in a group of six or more to focus their energy on each other rather than their neighbors. Avoid pairing them with long-finned or slow-moving fish such as bettas and angelfish.
Good to know
The serpae tetra (Hyphessobrycon callistus) comes from the Amazon and Paraguay 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
Well-documented safe pairing. Armored scutes eliminate fin-nipping risk, they occupy the bottom zone while Serpaes stay mid-water, and South American water chemistry overlaps cleanly. Consistently recommended across multiple specialist sources.
Bristlenose Pleco
Heavily armored, exclusively bottom-dwelling, and possesses no flowing fins to attract nippers. Confirmed safe alongside Serpae Tetras across the aquarium community; zone separation is complete and the armoring makes any incidental contact harmless.
Glass Bloodfin Tetra
Fast, active upper-to-mid-water swimmer confirmed compatible with Serpae Tetras by multiple sources. Quick enough to evade aggression, lacks the trailing fins that trigger Serpae nipping, and shares South American water parameters.
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.