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Epicharis tetra

Hyphessobrycon epicharis

Also known as Megalamphodus epicharis, Charming Rosy Tetra

FreshwaterFish
Epicharis tetra (Hyphessobrycon epicharis)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH
5.0–6.8
Adult size
1.6 in (4 cm)
Minimum tank
16 gal (60 L)
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Origin
Upper Orinoco and upper Negro basins, Venezuela and Brazil
Family
Characidae

Overview

Treat it like a black phantom tetra with a blackwater budget: a school of six plus, soft acidic water, and gentle company. It accepts flake and small frozen foods. Males fin-spar in that stately phantom way, all display and no damage, best watched against a leaf-litter backdrop.

In the wild

This tetra comes from blackwater of the upper Orinoco and upper Negro, some of the softest, most acidic habitat in South America. It wants tannin-stained water, leaf litter, dim light, 23 to 28 degrees Celsius, and pH from 5.0 to about 6.8.

Good to know

Hyphessobrycon epicharis reaches about 4 centimeters and belongs to the phantom tetra group; current classification places it in the resurrected genus Megalamphodus. The species name comes from the Greek for charming, and a tall dusky dorsal fin over a marked shoulder blotch gives it the classic phantom silhouette.

Did you know

Its home rivers are so mineral-poor that rainwater is hard by comparison, which is why seasoned keepers reach for peat and botanicals before the water report.

Tank mates

Epicharis tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does an Epicharis tetra need?

An Epicharis tetra needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH do Epicharis tetra need?

Epicharis tetra are comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 5.0–6.8.

How big do Epicharis tetra get?

An adult Epicharis tetra reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

Do Epicharis tetra need a group?

Yes. Epicharis 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 · Schooling fish · Community fish

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