Ant tetra
Hyphessobrycon myrmex
Also known as Myrmex tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 5.0–7.0
- Adult size
- 1.1 in
- 2.9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 10 gal
- 38 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Upper Tapajos system, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Overview
The ant tetra is a miniature, peaceful schooler for a nano community tank. It is a step up from the easiest nano fish.
Did you know
The ant tetra's name is a bilingual pun. It was found in a creek called corrego Formiga, which is Portuguese for ant creek. Scientists named it myrmex, Greek for ant, so the creek and the fish now say the same thing in two languages.
Caring for the ant tetra
Keep ant tetras in a nano tank of 10 gal (38 L) or more, with gentle flow and botanicals. A small tank like that recreates the scale of their home water.
Give them soft water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. Feed crushed flake, micro pellets and brine shrimp nauplii.
Keep eight or more, with fish their own size. Males show amber-orange fins when they are settled. A tight group over a dark substrate makes the most of that color.
Good to know
The ant tetra is a member of the family Characidae. It was described as Hyphessobrycon myrmex in 2016.
In the wild
The ant tetra was discovered in a small creek in the upper Tapajos system of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The water there is shallow, soft and shaded by forest.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The ant 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.
Green panchax
Aplocheilus blockii
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Green babaulti shrimp
Caridina babaulti
Freshwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Chopstick snail
Stenomelania torulosa
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Burmese mini moth catfish
Hara minuscula
Freshwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
White Cloud Mountain minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)57–72°F (14–22°C)
Borneo gold spot halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon tengah
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an ant tetra need?
An ant tetra needs at least 10 gal (38 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does an ant tetra need?
An ant tetra is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.0.
What does an ant tetra eat?
An ant tetra eats crushed flake, micro pellets and brine shrimp nauplii.
How big does an ant tetra get?
An adult ant tetra reaches about 1.1 in (2.9 cm).
Does an ant tetra need a group?
Yes. An ant tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How can you tell a male ant tetra from a female?
Males show amber-orange fins once they have settled in.
Related species
1.2 in (3 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Eilyos tetra
Hyphessobrycon eilyos
1.2 in (3 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)
1.2 in (3 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Weitzman's tetra
Hyphessobrycon weitzmanorum
1.2 in (3 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)
1.1 in (2.8 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Calypso tetra
Hyphessobrycon axelrodi
1.1 in (2.8 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)
1.3 in (3.2 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Micropterus tetra
Hyphessobrycon micropterus
1.3 in (3.2 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)
1 in (2.6 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Parvellus tetra
Hyphessobrycon parvellus
1 in (2.6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)
1 in (2.5 cm)10 gal (38 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Crystal red tetra
Hyphessobrycon haraldschultzi
1 in (2.5 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)