Paracheirodon is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Characidae of the order Characiformes.

All species of this genus are native to the Neotropical realm, occurring in the Orinoco and Amazon Basins in northern South America.

All share a distinctive iridescent blue lateral line, but differ slightly in their other colorations.

Preferring soft, acidic waters, these midwater shoaling fishes feed predominantly on small crustaceans, insects, worms, and zooplankton.

The generic name Paracheirodon derives from the Ancient Greek χείρ (hand), and οδών (teeth), prefixed with παρά (beside) to distinguish it from the similar characin genus Cheirodon.