Hexastichos tetra

Hyphessobrycon hexastichos

Also known as Six-row tetra, Zig Zag Tetra

FreshwaterFish

Hexastichos tetra (Hyphessobrycon hexastichos) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–81°F (22–27°C)
pH: 5.5–7.0
Adult size: 2.6 in (6.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 24 gal (90 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Rio Mutum, Chapada dos Parecis, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Family: Characidae

Overview

Think of it as a tetra with barb energy: keep six or more in a 90 liter tank or larger with robust, similarly sized companions. It takes granules, flake, and meaty frozen foods eagerly. Fast and mildly boisterous at feeding time, it is not the fish for a nano community.

In the wild

This big tetra is known from the rio Mutum on the Chapada dos Parecis plateau, headwaters of the Juruena in Mato Grosso. Cool-leaning clear water with current suits it: 22 to 27 degrees Celsius, pH 5.5 to 7.0, and a tank long enough for real swimming.

Good to know

Described by Bertaco and Carvalho in 2005, Hyphessobrycon hexastichos is among the largest members of the genus; the holotype measured 53 millimeters standard length, which works out to roughly 6.5 centimeters in total. The name comes from the Greek for six rows, after its longitudinal scale series.

Did you know

Its entire known range is a single river on one Brazilian plateau, yet in a tank it carries itself like the biggest tetra in the room, because it usually is.

Tank mates

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