Copper Congo tetra

Hemigrammopetersius pulcher

Also known as Phenacogrammus pulcher, Copper tetra

FreshwaterFish

Copper Congo tetra (Hemigrammopetersius pulcher) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH: 6.0–7.2
Adult size: 2.4 in (6 cm)
Minimum tank: 24 gal (90 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Dja River system, Cameroon
Family: Alestidae

Overview

The copper Congo tetra is a schooling fish best kept in a group of at least six, which spreads out the lively sparring that rival males do among themselves and keeps any one fish from being singled out; a good number of females helps. It is peaceful toward tankmates and holds in open midwater, so pair it with other calm community species that occupy different levels. Give it swimming room and gentle flow. Feed a varied diet of quality flake or micropellet with regular small frozen and live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodworm. About 90 liters or more will house a small, settled shoal.

In the wild

The copper Congo tetra is endemic to the Dja River drainage in southern Cameroon, part of the wider Congo basin. It lives in warm, soft, gently acidic forest water flowing over sand and leaf litter under heavy shade. Set it up with driftwood, a dark base, dim lighting, and open midwater to swim in. Keep the water soft and slightly acidic at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius and pH 6.0 to 7.2, with good filtration and regular changes to hold conditions steady.

Good to know

Hemigrammopetersius pulcher is a small alestid of about 6 centimeters, sometimes listed under Phenacogrammus, which is why that name sits in this page's aliases. Its epithet pulcher is Latin for beautiful, a fair label for the warm, burnished copper sheen that gives it its common name. Males are the slimmer, brighter sex, and females are deeper-bodied with a yellow tail. It is rare in the trade, and reliable aquarium breeding is not on record, though it is presumed to scatter eggs.

Did you know

Its scientific name says it plainly: pulcher is Latin for beautiful, chosen for the way a healthy fish takes on the glow of freshly minted copper. It is also genuinely rare, endemic to a single river system in Cameroon.