Price Guide8 min readUpdated 30 August 2026
Tetra Fish Price in India 2026: Neon, Cardinal, Glowlight and More
Tetras are the most popular schooling fish in India. Current prices for every common variety, plus the care mistakes that cause the classic neon tetra die-off.
Tetras are the default community fish in India and for good reason: they are inexpensive, colourful, peaceful, and a school of them in motion is the best value visual impact you can buy for an aquarium. Prices start at around ₹15 a fish, which is why almost every beginner tank has some.
Tetra Fish Price List India 2026
| Variety | Price per fish (INR) | Adult size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neon Tetra | ₹15-₹40 | 3 cm | Most popular; buy 10+ for a proper school |
| Cardinal Tetra | ₹60-₹150 | 4 cm | Deeper red than neon, full length stripe |
| Glowlight Tetra | ₹25-₹60 | 4 cm | Orange stripe, very hardy, good for beginners |
| Ember Tetra | ₹40-₹90 | 2 cm | Tiny, bright orange, perfect for nano tanks |
| Black Skirt / Widow Tetra | ₹25-₹60 | 5 cm | Hardy, can nip long fins |
| Serpae Tetra | ₹25-₹60 | 4 cm | Striking red; a known fin nipper |
| Rummy Nose Tetra | ₹60-₹140 | 5 cm | Red nose fades when water quality drops, a live test kit |
| Lemon Tetra | ₹40-₹90 | 5 cm | Soft yellow, peaceful |
| Congo Tetra | ₹150-₹400 | 8 cm | Larger, iridescent, needs a 3 ft tank |
| Diamond Tetra | ₹80-₹180 | 6 cm | Sparkling scales develop with age |
| Bloodfin Tetra | ₹30-₹70 | 5 cm | Very hardy, tolerates cooler water |
| GloFish Tetra (dyed/GM) | ₹80-₹250 | 5 cm | Check the source; avoid artificially injected fish |
⚠️Avoid any tetra sold as "painted", "injected" or unnaturally bright pink, blue or purple. These are dyed by injection, the process is cruel, and the fish typically die within months. Genuine GloFish are genetically fluorescent and a different thing entirely, but they are rare and expensive in India.
Neon vs Cardinal Tetra: Which to Buy
| Neon Tetra | Cardinal Tetra | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ₹15-₹40 | ₹60-₹150 |
| Red stripe | Rear half of body only | Full length, head to tail |
| Size | 3 cm | 4 cm |
| Temperature | 22-26°C | 25-29°C |
| Hardiness | Farm bred, but prone to neon tetra disease | Slightly more delicate about water quality |
| Best for | Beginners, budget schools | Planted display tanks, discus tanks |
Tetra Care: The Basics
- Tank size: 1.5 feet minimum for small tetras, 2.5-3 feet for a proper school of 12-15.
- Group size: 6 is the absolute minimum, 10-15 is where they actually behave naturally and show colour.
- Temperature: 24-27°C for most species. Neons prefer the cooler end, cardinals the warmer end.
- pH: 6.0-7.5. They come from soft, acidic blackwater and colour up best in it, but farm bred stock handles Indian tap water fine.
- Diet: crushed flake, micro pellets, frozen or live daphnia and brine shrimp. Small mouths need small food.
- Tank setup: dark substrate, plenty of plants, and some open swimming space. Colour looks washed out over bright gravel.
- Lifespan: 3-5 years for neons, up to 8 for cardinals in good conditions.
Why Neon Tetras Die (and How to Prevent It)
The most searched tetra problem in India. Three causes account for nearly all of it:
- Added to an uncycled tank. Neons are small and sensitive; ammonia that a goldfish shrugs off will kill a neon. Never use tetras to cycle a tank.
- Bought in small numbers. A school of three is a stressed school. Stress suppresses the immune system and they die one by one.
- Neon tetra disease (Pleistophora). Signs are a fading stripe, a white patch under the skin, spinal curvature and separation from the school. There is no cure. Remove affected fish immediately and quarantine all new stock for 3 weeks before adding them.
Best Tank Mates for Tetras
| Good tank mates | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Corydoras catfish | Angelfish (will eat small tetras once grown) |
| Guppies, platies, mollies | Oscar, flowerhorn, arowana, any large cichlid |
| Harlequin rasboras | Betta (risk goes both ways with nippy tetras) |
| Otocinclus and bristlenose pleco | Tiger barbs (fin nipping) |
| Cherry and amano shrimp (with larger tetras, watch for predation) | Goldfish (temperature mismatch) |
| Dwarf gouramis | Serpae tetras with long finned fish |
How Many Tetras for Your Tank
| Tank size | Neon / ember tetras | Larger tetras (black skirt, serpae) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ft (20 L) | 6-8 embers only | Not suitable |
| 1.5 ft (35 L) | 8-10 | 6 |
| 2 ft (60 L) | 12-15 | 8-10 |
| 3 ft (150 L) | 20-30 plus other species | 12-15 plus other species |
Buying Tips
- Look for fish actively schooling in the seller tank, not sitting in corners.
- Check for a crisp, unbroken stripe and no white patches on the body.
- Avoid tanks with any dead fish in them.
- Buy the whole school at once from one source. Mixing batches is how disease spreads.
- Quarantine for 2-3 weeks before adding to an established display tank.
- Expect some losses in the first fortnight even from good stock; that is why you buy a full school rather than topping up later.