Cachimbo tetra
Hyphessobrycon cachimbensis
Also known as Serra do Cachimbo tetra, Golden Flash Tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 2.7 in
- 6.8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 26 gal
- 100 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Serra do Cachimbo, Para, Brazil
Overview
The Cachimbo tetra is a robust schooling tetra for a roomy community tank. It is a step up from beginner fish.
Did you know
Most Hyphessobrycon fit comfortably in a nano tank, but the Cachimbo tetra is one of the giants of the genus. It grows nearly three times the length of an ember tetra.
Caring for the Cachimbo tetra
Give Cachimbo tetras a longer tank than their smaller cousins need, at least 26 gal (100 L). They need swimming room and moderate flow.
Keep the water at cooler tropical temperatures, 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C), with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Their larger mouths take bigger fare, such as granules, small pellets and meaty frozen foods.
Cachimbo tetras are mostly peaceful schooling fish. Keep six or more with peaceful fish of similar size. Avoid very small tank mates, simply because of the size difference.
Good to know
Hyphessobrycon cachimbensis was described by Travassos in 1964. It remains poorly studied and rarely exported. It is known mainly from the plateau region it is named after.
In the wild
The Cachimbo tetra comes from streams draining the Serra do Cachimbo uplands in Para, Brazil. The water there is clear and touched with tannins, and it runs over rock and sand.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Cachimbo tetra is a mostly 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.

Geoffroy's cory
Corydoras geoffroy
Freshwater3 in (7.5 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Blue-eyed livebearer
Priapella intermedia
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Lake Tebera rainbowfish
Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Panda garra
Garra flavatra
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Wrestling halfbeak
Dermogenys pusilla
FreshwaterBrackish2.8 in (7 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Red eye tetra
Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 28 gal (105 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Cachimbo tetra need?
A Cachimbo tetra needs at least 26 gal (100 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Cachimbo tetra need?
A Cachimbo tetra is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
What does a Cachimbo tetra eat?
A Cachimbo tetra has a larger mouth and takes bigger fare, such as granules, small pellets and meaty frozen foods.
How big does a Cachimbo tetra get?
An adult Cachimbo tetra reaches about 2.7 in (6.8 cm).
Does a Cachimbo tetra need a group?
Yes. A Cachimbo tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2.6 in (6.5 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Hexastichos tetra
Hyphessobrycon hexastichos
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Colombian tetra
Hyphessobrycon columbianus
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)Bleeding heart tetra
Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.2 in (5.6 cm)24 gal (90 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Lesser bleeding heart tetra
Hyphessobrycon socolofi
2.2 in (5.6 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.1 in (5.4 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Flameback bleeding heart tetra
Hyphessobrycon pyrrhonotus
2.1 in (5.4 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2 in (5.2 cm)17 gal (65 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Agulha tetra
Hyphessobrycon agulha
2 in (5.2 cm) · 17 gal (65 L)
