Margitae tetra

Care at a glance

Overview

The Margitae tetra's size and steady schooling make it a good anchor fish for a Peru-themed soft-water display. It is a solid pick for an intermediate keeper.

Caring for the Margitae tetra

Keep Margitae tetras in a group of six or more, in a tank of 16 gal (60 L) or larger. A dark-bottomed tank with wood, leaves and gentle flow fits them.

Keep the water soft, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. They take flake, granules, and frozen bloodworm or brine shrimp without hesitation. Margitae tetras are peaceful, so choose calm, medium-sized companions.

Good to know

Hyphessobrycon margitae is a characin in the family Characidae and a recent addition to its genus. It grows larger than most of its close relatives. It remains scarce in the hobby, appearing mainly through specialist Peruvian importers, and some shops list it as the bleeding blue tetra.

In the wild

The Margitae tetra comes from soft lowland waters in Peru. It is at home in the dim, tannin-tinted conditions typical of the region's forest streams.

Common questions

Related species

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• 

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• 

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• 

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• 

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• 

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