Mayan tetra
Hyphessobrycon compressus
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–79°F
- 20–26°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 1.8 in
- 4.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 16 gal
- 60 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Mexico, Guatemala, Belize
Overview
Keep them in a school of six or more. They are active, peaceful fish that work the middle and lower water. They are omnivores, so a varied diet of quality flakes, small granules, and the occasional frozen or live bloodworms and brine shrimp keeps them in good shape. Soft, slightly acidic water suits them best. They fit a community of similarly sized, calm fish. A 60 liter tank gives a group enough room.
In the wild
The Mayan tetra comes from slow, shaded freshwater streams and rivers in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, over sand and leaf litter with decaying plant matter on the bottom. A tank with soft to moderately hard water, some leaf litter or wood for tannins, and shaded planting matches that. Keep pH from 6 to 7.5 and temperatures in the low to mid 20s C.
Good to know
Hyphessobrycon compressus is a characin (family Characidae) reaching around 4.5 cm. The body is laterally compressed, which helps it slip through dense plant growth. It is an egg scatterer that gives no parental care, and aquarium breeding is not well documented. It is not considered endangered, though habitat loss is a risk to some local populations.
Did you know
This is one of the larger and hardier members of its genus, which made it a familiar fish in parts of Central America long before it reached the wider hobby. In its home range it shows up in everything from clear streams to murky backwaters, a good sign of how adaptable it is.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Mayan 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.
New Guinea blue-eye
Pseudomugil novaeguineae
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
White spotted rabbit snail
Tylomelania towutica
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Elegant cory
Gastrodermus elegans
Freshwater2.1 in (5.4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Merry widow livebearer
Phallichthys amates
Freshwater2.5 in (6.4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)72–86°F (22–30°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)
Common questions
What size tank does a Mayan tetra need?
A Mayan tetra needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Mayan tetra need?
A Mayan tetra is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Mayan tetra get?
An adult Mayan tetra reaches about 1.8 in (4.5 cm).
Does a Mayan tetra need a group?
Yes. A Mayan tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Ornate tetra
Hyphessobrycon bentosi
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Purple tetra
Hyphessobrycon metae
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)17 gal (65 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)Serpae tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
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1.8 in (4.6 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Itaparica tetra
Hyphessobrycon itaparicensis
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1.7 in (4.4 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Lapis tetra
Hyphessobrycon cyanotaenia
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1.7 in (4.4 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Melanostichos tetra
Hyphessobrycon melanostichos
1.7 in (4.4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)