TankBud

Crystal red tetra

Hyphessobrycon haraldschultzi

Also known as Megalamphodus haraldschultzi, Harald Schultz's tetra, Red Crystal Tetra

FreshwaterFish

Crystal red tetra (Hyphessobrycon haraldschultzi)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
1 in
2.5 cm
Minimum tank
10 gal
38 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Characidae
Origin
Araguaia basin, Brazil

Overview

The crystal red tetra is a tiny, peaceful schooling fish for a nano tank. It is a step up from beginner tetras.

Did you know

The crystal red tetra shares its trade name with the crystal red shrimp for the same reason. Both have a translucent body that lets red pigment glow like tinted glass.

Caring for the crystal red tetra

Keep crystal red tetras in a group of at least eight, in 10 gal (38 L) or larger. A nano or small community tank with fine plants suits them. They school tightly and color up best in numbers.

Give them soft water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Their foods must be small, such as crushed flake, micro granules and baby brine shrimp.

Crystal red tetras are peaceful and suit a nano community of similarly gentle miniatures. A species tank works too, and there the red really carries. Breeding them is hard.

Good to know

Hyphessobrycon haraldschultzi was described by Travassos in 1960. It honors Harald Schultz, the Brazilian ethnographer and fish collector. Current classification places it in Megalamphodus.

In the wild

The crystal red tetra comes from the Araguaia basin in Brazil. It lives there in warm, quiet margins with plenty of cover.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The crystal red 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a crystal red tetra need?

A crystal red tetra needs at least 10 gal (38 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a crystal red tetra need?

A crystal red tetra is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a crystal red tetra eat?

A crystal red tetra needs small foods, such as crushed flake, micro granules and baby brine shrimp.

How big does a crystal red tetra get?

An adult crystal red tetra reaches about 1 in (2.5 cm).

Does a crystal red tetra need a group?

Yes. A crystal red tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Related species