Colombian Tetra

Hyphessobrycon columbianus

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.0
Adult size: 2.6 in (6.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 20 gal (75 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Colombia
Family: Characidae

Overview

The Colombian tetra is an active, hardy shoaling fish that does best in a group of at least six, and a larger group keeps it settled and reduces fin-nipping. It swims mainly in the middle of the tank and suits a lively community of similarly sized fish, though very small or long-finned tankmates can get harassed by a bold group. Give it open swimming space with planted edges and a bit of current. It takes almost any food, so feed a good flake or micro-pellet with regular frozen and live treats to deepen the blue body and red fins. A tank of around 75 liters or larger suits a group.

In the wild

This tetra comes from the Acandi River and nearby slow creeks near Acandi in northwestern Colombia, close to the border with Panama. The water there is warm, soft, and slightly acidic, moving gently through shaded, wooded margins. Recreate that with temperatures of 23 to 28 C, a pH from 6.0 to 7.0, and soft to moderately hard water. Planting around the sides with driftwood and an open central channel gives it room to shoal while still feeling secure.

Good to know

The Colombian tetra sits in Characidae, the large American tetra family, and was only formally described in 2002, fairly late for such a common aquarium fish. It is one of the bigger Hyphessobrycon tetras, reaching around 6 to 7 cm, with a tall, compressed silver-blue body and red-tinted fins that brighten as it matures. Like other characids it is an egg-scattering spawner with no parental care. It is considered hard to breed at home, needing soft acidic water and dim light, though it is now widely produced on commercial farms.

Did you know

Despite being one of the most familiar tetras in the hobby, the Colombian tetra was not scientifically described until 2002. Its natural range is remarkably small, centred on a single river system in the far northwest of Colombia, yet tank-bred stock now makes it available almost everywhere.