Amapa tetra
Hyphessobrycon amapaensis
Also known as Amapa red-line tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 1.4 in
- 3.6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 15 gal
- 55 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Amapa, northern Brazil
Overview
The Amapa tetra is a peaceful schooler for a soft, slightly acidic community tank. It is best kept with a little experience.
Did you know
The Amapa tetra's striping has earned it comparisons to a lit fuse. In a dim blackwater tank, its red line is often the first thing visitors spot.
Caring for the Amapa tetra
Keep Amapa tetras in 15 gal (55 L) or larger, in a planted or leaf-littered tank with gentle flow and subdued light. Give them soft water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C), with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0.
Feed crushed flake, micro granules and small live or frozen foods. Keep six or more, and their red line becomes a moving ribbon through the tank. Amapa tetras are peaceful, so pair them with nano fish that share their calm temperament and water preferences. Breeding them is hard.
Good to know
Hyphessobrycon amapaensis is a member of the family Characidae, known from the Brazilian state it is named after. Its signature is a bright red line along the length of the body, directly above a crisp black stripe. That combination stands out even among the many striped tetras of the region.
In the wild
The Amapa tetra lives in small forest streams in Amapa, in Brazil's far north, where the water runs soft, warm and shaded.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Amapa tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Oil catfish
Duringlanis perugiae
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Scherer's hatchetfish
Carnegiella schereri
Freshwater1 in (2.6 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Green lace shrimp
Atyoida pilipes
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Royal tetra
Inpaichthys kerri
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Java loach
Pangio oblonga
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Clown killifish
Epiplatys annulatus
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an Amapa tetra need?
An Amapa tetra needs at least 15 gal (55 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does an Amapa tetra need?
An Amapa tetra is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
What does an Amapa tetra eat?
An Amapa tetra eats crushed flake, micro granules and small live or frozen foods.
How big does an Amapa tetra get?
An adult Amapa tetra reaches about 1.4 in (3.6 cm).
Does an Amapa tetra need a group?
Yes. An Amapa tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
1.4 in (3.6 cm)17 gal (65 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)Black phantom tetra
Hyphessobrycon megalopterus
1.4 in (3.6 cm) · 17 gal (65 L)
1.4 in (3.6 cm)15 gal (55 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Coffee bean tetra
Hyphessobrycon takasei
1.4 in (3.6 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.4 in (3.6 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Pinnistriatus tetra
Hyphessobrycon pinnistriatus
1.4 in (3.6 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.4 in (3.6 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Simulatus tetra
Hyphessobrycon simulatus
1.4 in (3.6 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.5 in (3.7 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Clavatus tetra
Hyphessobrycon clavatus
1.5 in (3.7 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.5 in (3.7 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Moniliger tetra
Hyphessobrycon moniliger
1.5 in (3.7 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)