# How Long Do X-ray Tetras Live?

> X-ray Tetra lifespan is typically 3–5 years. What shortens or extends life, life stages, and status (Least Concern).

- **Species:** X-ray Tetra (*Pristella maxillaris*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Omnivore (small invertebrates, plant matter)
- **Habitat:** Coastal Amazon rivers and floodplains
- **Lifespan:** 3–5 years
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/x-ray-tetra/how-long-do-x-ray-tetra-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/x-ray-tetra/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The X-ray tetra is a small, translucent freshwater fish from the Amazon basin whose see-through body reveals its backbone and a silvery swim-bladder capsule. Hardy and peaceful, it lives in large schools, eats small invertebrates and plant matter, and usually lives 3 to 5 years.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a prognosis for one named animal. This page is a species lifespan range.

## A transparent body

The X-ray tetra gets its name from its almost transparent body, through which you can see the spine and a silvery, bullet-shaped capsule that protects its swim bladder. The transparency works as camouflage in sunlit, open water, making the fish hard for predators to pick out.

## Help protect the X-ray Tetra

Ocean wildlife is under mounting pressure from overfishing, bycatch and plastic pollution.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/x-ray-tetra/how-long-do-x-ray-tetra-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.