The fish is native to the Orinoco River basin and coastal river basins of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, as well as Brazil and Venezuela, and can be found in shallow slow moving streams with heavy vegetation.

[1] Silver tetras have a silvery-gray color and a round flattened body, with the occasional slight olive green cast.

The only relieving bit of color is a glow of red in the rear portion of the anal fin (only in males).

[1] Commercially breed silver tetras are good for beginners.

The fish prefers a heavily planted aquarium with dim light.