Tetra was founded over half a century ago by Dr Ulrich Baensch, a fish breeder and importer based in Hanover, Germany. At this time aquarium ownership was rare, in large part due to the inconvenience of having to feed fish with live foods caught from local streams and rivers. To overcome this difficulty, Dr Baensch began researching and developing prepared foods that could be fed as a complete diet. The culmination of this research was the launch of TetraMin flakes in the early 1950s - the word ´Tetra´ coming from the Greek for ´four´, and relating to the four different flakes in the diet, and the word ´Min´ relating to the vitamins they contained.

TetraMin revolutionised fishkeeping, for the first time making it easy and convenient to own an aquarium. Since its launch TetraMin has continuously been updated and improved, and remains the world´s best selling aquarium flake food.

The development of TetraMin marked the beginning of a dedication to researching products for making aquarium and pond ownership easy and enjoyable. Over the years Tetra has been responsible for many ´world firsts´, including others like TetraMin that have revolutionised the way we care for fish. These include:
 

• TetraFin, the first complete flake fish food formulated specifically for goldfish in aquariums.
• The TetraTest range of water testing kits, launched in 1970 and still used by professional aquarists and public aquariums throughout the world.
• AquaSafe, the world´s first water conditioner for making tap water safe for fish, launched in 1973.
• The first extruded foods perfected for the soft palate of aquarium fish, including DoroMin, ReptoMin and other ´stick´ products. Launched in 1976.
• The first extruded stick foods for pond fish, launched in the 1980s.

Patented ´Crisp Technology´, the world´s first low-temperature extruded alterative to flakes. Launched in 2000 as TetraMin Pro, Tetra Crisp foods offer the first significant improvement over flaking technology since Tetra invented flakes as fish food in the 1950s. The world´s first product for replacing and improving on the refreshing action of water changes - EasyBalance. Launched in 2000, EasyBalance has made aquarium ownership easier and more enjoyable for millions of fishkeepers worldwide. The world´s first fresh alternative to frozen foods - patented FreshDelica. Launched in 2001, FreshDelica offers a fresh, vitamin enriched treat for fish, yet does not need storing in a fridge or freezer, and helps provide your fish with optimum nutrients of the very best qualtiy.

More recently, in 2006, Tetra launched patented SafeStart - the only bacterial filter start to use the precise species of bacteria responsible for removing ammonia and nitrite from aquarium water. 

Driven by the success of its innovations, Tetra has remained global leader in the aquatics market for over 50 years, distributing its products in over 90 countries. In 2005 Tetra was incorporated into United Pet Group, owned by Spectrum Brands, and responsible for marketing some of world´s top pet and aquatic brands.

Tetra offers a wide range of products ranging from fish food, water conditioner and water testing kits as well as aquarium equipment to help you get the best for your aquatic pets. Tetra's range of fish food includes that for tropical fish, gold fish, reptiles and the Natura range, which gives fish a more natural-tasting food. Tetra's water conditioner helps to maintain a healthy and clean environment for your fish to live in, and the water testing kits allow simple and precise measurements of water quality values in freshwater and marine aquaria.