Black Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri)

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The Black Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri var. "Amphiloxus Black") is a striking all-black color morph of the classic Emperor Tetra — same hardy, peaceful temperament with a deeper, smokier finish that pops against green plants and dark substrate. Tank-bred, beginner-friendly, and an excellent shoaling addition to South American or general community aquariums. Browse the rest of our freshwater livestock and supplies.

Care Guide

• Group size: Keep in a shoal of 6 or more — a group of 8–10 brings out the best color and natural behavior.
• Tank size: 20 gallons minimum for a small shoal; longer tanks (29+ gal) give them swimming room and reduce male sparring.
• Temperature: 73–81°F (23–27°C).
• pH: 5.5–7.5 — slightly acidic to neutral. Adapts to a wide range when acclimated slowly.
• Hardness: Soft to moderately hard, 3–15 dGH.
• Filtration & flow: Gentle to moderate flow. Tannin-stained "blackwater" setups with driftwood and leaf litter show off the dark finish beautifully.
• Aquascape: Densely planted edges with open mid-tank swimming space. Floating plants soften lighting and encourage display behavior.
• Feeding: Quality micro flake, crushed pellets, frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms. Variety brings out color.

Specifications

Compatibility

Temperament: Peaceful shoaler. Mature males display and spar mildly during courtship but rarely cause damage when kept in a proper group.

Good tank mates:

• Small South American tetras — Neon Tetras, Bleeding Heart Tetras
• Peaceful bottom dwellers — Panda Corys, Orange Laser Corydoras, or Mixed Cory Catfish
• Active dither schools — Zebra Danios
• South American dwarf cichlids — Bolivian Rams make an excellent biotope-style pairing
• Pencil fish, hatchet fish, otocinclus, and other peaceful small community species

Avoid: Large or aggressive fish (cichlids beyond rams, larger barbs, gouramis with bullying tendencies), notorious fin-nippers, and very tiny shrimp (adult emperors will pick at shrimplets — adult Neocaridina shrimp usually coexist if there's enough cover).

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Ocean Nutrition Brine Shrimp Plus Flake — high-protein staple that brings out color
• Browse all aquarium nutrition — micro pellets, frozen foods, and treats
• Freshwater aquarium plants — densely planted edges suit blackwater tetras best
• Water conditioners & care — for stable, well-aged water
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Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Black Emperor Tetra different from the standard Emperor Tetra?
They are the same species (Nematobrycon palmeri) — the "Amphiloxus Black" line is a selectively bred color morph with a deeper, sootier black extending across the body and fins. Care is identical to the standard form.

How many should I keep?
A minimum of six, but eight to ten will give you the most natural behavior and the best color. Solo or pair-kept emperors tend to be shy and lose color.

Are they fin-nippers?
Generally no. Males posture and chase one another briefly during display, but they don't pursue tank mates the way some other tetras do.

Do they need a "blackwater" tank?
No, but they thrive in one. Dim lighting, dark substrate, driftwood, and tannin-stained water (from leaf litter or botanicals) bring out the deepest blacks and the violet-blue iridescence in the eye.