Madre de Dios tetra
Hyphessobrycon nigricinctus
Also known as Black-belted tetra, Imperial Tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Adult size
- 1.6 in
- 4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 15 gal
- 55 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Madre de Dios drainage, Peru
Overview
The Madre de Dios tetra is a peaceful Peruvian schooling fish for a soft-water community. It is neither a beginner fish nor a hard one.
Did you know
The Madre de Dios tetra's home basin borders Manu National Park. The reserve is so rich that scientists routinely describe new fish from streams a day's walk from ranger stations.
Caring for the Madre de Dios tetra
Keep Madre de Dios tetras in a group of six or more, in a tank of 15 gal (55 L) or larger. Wild imports settle fastest in dim, botanical-stained water, so keep the light subdued.
Give them warm, soft water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Feed crushed flake, granules, and frozen daphnia or brine shrimp. They are peaceful, and good companions include pencilfish, apistos and small corys.
Good to know
Hyphessobrycon nigricinctus is a characin in the family Characidae, described by Zarske and Gery in 2004. The name means black-belted, for the dark band that wraps its body. It still travels mostly under its locality name in trade lists, and some shops call it the imperial tetra.
In the wild
The Madre de Dios tetra is known from the Madre de Dios drainage in southeastern Peru. It inhabits soft forest streams in one of the most biodiverse corners of the Amazon.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Madre de Dios 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.
Evelyn's cory
Hoplisoma evelynae
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Gold-spotted halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon chrysopunctatus
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Black widow tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Martin's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma martini
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Clown killifish
Epiplatys annulatus
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Melanzona guppy
Poecilia parae
FreshwaterBrackish2 in (5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Madre de Dios tetra need?
A Madre de Dios tetra needs at least 15 gal (55 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Madre de Dios tetra need?
A Madre de Dios tetra is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
What does a Madre de Dios tetra eat?
A Madre de Dios tetra accepts crushed flake, granules, and frozen daphnia or brine shrimp.
How big does a Madre de Dios tetra get?
An adult Madre de Dios tetra reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).
Does a Madre de Dios tetra need a group?
Yes. A Madre de Dios tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
1.6 in (4 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Epicharis tetra
Hyphessobrycon epicharis
1.6 in (4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Parrot tetra
Hyphessobrycon psittacus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Peruvian tetra
Hyphessobrycon peruvianus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Red phantom tetra
Hyphessobrycon sweglesi
1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Rosy tetra
Hyphessobrycon rosaceus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Vinaceus tetra
Hyphessobrycon vinaceus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)