Loreto tetra
Hyphessobrycon loretoensis
Also known as Loreto's tetra, Loreto slender tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 1.4 in
- 3.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 16 gal
- 60 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Native to the upper Amazon around the Loreto region of northeastern Peru.
Overview
The Loreto tetra is a small, peaceful schooling characin for a soft-water community. It is an intermediate fish, not a first one.
Did you know
The Loreto tetra's neat black and silver stripes make a large school look like a single shimmering ribbon when the fish turn together.
Caring for the Loreto tetra
Keep Loreto tetras in a shoal of at least eight, in a tank of 16 gal (60 L) or larger. A group that size shows off their tight schooling.
They are undemanding as long as the water is soft and clean. Keep it at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C), with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0.
Loreto tetras are active, and they make good companions for other small, gentle characins and dwarf cichlids. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
Good to know
Hyphessobrycon loretoensis is a slim, silvery characin in the family Characidae, with a dark lateral line and a small tail spot. It is often confused with the similar Peruvian tetra, and both come from the same broad region of Peru. It also goes by Loreto's tetra and Loreto slender tetra.
In the wild
The Loreto tetra occurs in soft, often tannin-stained streams and tributaries of the upper Amazon, around the Loreto region of northeastern Peru. These are calm, shaded waters with sandy bottoms, wood and leaf litter. The fish shoal in the open middle water.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Loreto 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.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Spotted splash tetra
Copella nattereri
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Gold rabbit snail
Tylomelania gemmifera
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Fire-tail dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma eremnopyge
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Loreto tetra need?
A Loreto tetra needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Loreto tetra need?
A Loreto tetra is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
How big does a Loreto tetra get?
An adult Loreto tetra reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).
Does a Loreto tetra need a group?
Yes. A Loreto tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
1.4 in (3.5 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Black neon tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Colombian gold tetra
Hyphessobrycon saizi
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)Flag tetra
Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Krenakore tetra
Hyphessobrycon krenakore
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Notidanos tetra
Hyphessobrycon notidanos
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Vilma's tetra
Hyphessobrycon vilmae
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)