Brighten up your community aquarium with the Gold Pristella Tetra (Pristella maxillaris), a striking, golden-yellow color morph of the classic X-ray Tetra. Known for its shimmering translucent body, vibrant golden coloration, and distinctive black, white, and yellow fins, this peaceful schooling fish adds constant movement and color to any planted tank setup.

Product Overview

• Scientific Name: Pristella maxillaris (Golden Variety)

• Common Names: Gold Pristella Tetra, Golden X-Ray Tetra, Golden Pristella

• Care Level: Easy / Beginner-Friendly

• Temperament: Peaceful, Schooling Fish

• Max Size: 1.75 to 2 inches

• Lifespan: 4 – 5 years

Origin & Background

The standard Pristella maxillaris is native to South America, inhabiting coastal rivers and floodplains across Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil. The Gold Pristella Tetra is a selectively bred captive variety prized for its warm, metallic yellow-gold body while retaining the species' famous hardiness and adaptable nature.

Tank Size & Environment

To keep your Gold Pristella Tetras healthy and active, maintain a minimum group of 6 to 8 individuals (larger groups of 10+ encourage natural schooling behavior and bold activity).

• Minimum Tank Size: 10 to 15 gallons for a small school; 20+ gallons recommended for community setups.

• Aquarium Decor: Thrives in well-planted tanks with plenty of open swimming space in the middle region. Dark substrates, driftwood, and aquatic plants (like Anubias, Java Fern, and Cryptocoryne) contrast dramatically with their golden sheen.

• Water Conditions: Very adaptable to a wide range of water conditions compared to other delicate tetras.

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 72°F – 82°F (22°C – 28°C)

• pH: 6.0 – 7.5

• Hardness: 4 – 15 dGH

Diet & Feeding

Gold Pristella Tetras are unfussy omnivores. To maintain optimal coloration and health, feed a varied diet consisting of:

• High-quality tropical micro-pellets and crushed flakes.

• Freeze-dried or frozen foods like brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms.

• Occasional live foods to stimulate natural foraging instincts.

Ideal Tank Mates

Extremely peaceful and passive, Gold Pristella Tetras are perfect inhabitants for peaceful freshwater community aquariums.

• Great Companions: Neon Tetras, Cardinal Tetras, Harlequin Rasboras, Corydoras Catfish, Bristlenose Plecos, Otocinclus, Dwarf Gouramis, and Ram Cichlids.

• Invertebrate Compatibility: Safe with peaceful dwarf shrimp (like Cherry Shrimp or Amano Shrimp) and freshwater aquarium snails.

• Avoid: Large, aggressive, or predatory fish (such as Oscars, large Cichlids, or aggressive Barbs) that may view these small tetras as food.

Breeding

Gold Pristella Tetras are egg scatterers and relatively easy to breed in a home aquarium setting.

To encourage spawning, condition a breeding pair or small group with live or frozen protein-rich foods. Set up a separate breeding tank with soft, slightly acidic water, a sponge filter, and dense plants like Java Moss or a spawning mop to catch eggs. Adult fish should be removed after spawning to prevent egg predation. Eggs typically hatch within 24 to 36 hours, and free-swimming fry can be raised on infusoria, liquid fry food, and freshly hatched baby brine shrimp.

PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING

• The photos shown on fish product pages are representations of adult fish and are NOT the actual fish that you will be receiving. 
• Please visit our “Ordering/Shipping fish” page prior to checking out to familiarize yourself with our process.
• We ship fish exclusively using overnight shipping with either FedEx or UPS. We will not ship fish with lesser expensive shipping services like “Ground” or “Priority Mail”. This is to ensure the safety of the fish.
• Unless specified, all fish are sold as unsexed.