Ant tetra
Hyphessobrycon myrmex
Also known as Myrmex tetra
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
- Origin
- Upper Tapajos system, Mato Grosso, Brazil
- Family
- Characidae
Overview
A miniature schooler for nano communities: keep eight or more with fish its own size. Feed crushed flake, micro pellets, and brine shrimp nauplii. Males show amber-orange fins when settled, and a tight group over dark substrate makes the most of it.
In the wild
The ant tetra was discovered in a small creek in the upper Tapajos system of Mato Grosso, shallow soft water shaded by forest. A nano tank with gentle flow, botanicals, 22 to 27 degrees Celsius, and pH 5.0 to 7.0 recreates the scale of its home water.
Good to know
Hyphessobrycon myrmex was described in 2016 and stays under about 3 centimeters. The species name is Greek for ant, chosen because the type locality is a creek called corrego Formiga, which is Portuguese for ant creek.
Did you know
Its name is a bilingual pun: scientists translated the Portuguese ant creek where it was found into Greek, so the creek and the fish now say the same thing in two languages.
Tank mates
Ant tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Indian amber glassfish
Parambassis lalaFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Adonis tetra
Lepidarchus adonisFreshwater1 in (2.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Black-barred livebearer
Quintana atrizonaFreshwater1.3 in (3.4 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Green babaulti shrimp
Caridina babaultiFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Jellybean tetra
Ladigesia roloffiFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)10 gal (37 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Phoenix rasbora
Boraras merahFreshwater0.8 in (2 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°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 do Ant tetra need?
Ant tetra are comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.0.
How big do Ant tetra get?
An adult Ant tetra reaches about 1.1 in (2.9 cm).
Do Ant tetra need a group?
Yes. Ant tetra are a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Freshwater fish · Tetras · Nano fish · Schooling fish · Community fish
Keeping Ant tetra?
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Planning tankmates
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Related species
Eilyos tetra
Hyphessobrycon eilyosFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Weitzman's tetra
Hyphessobrycon weitzmanorumFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Calypso tetra
Hyphessobrycon axelrodiFreshwater1.1 in (2.8 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Micropterus tetra
Hyphessobrycon micropterusFreshwater1.3 in (3.2 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Parvellus tetra
Hyphessobrycon parvellusFreshwater1 in (2.6 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Crystal red tetra
Hyphessobrycon haraldschultziFreshwater1 in (2.5 cm)10 gal (38 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)