TankBud

Mayan tetra

Hyphessobrycon compressus

FreshwaterFish

Mayan tetra (Hyphessobrycon compressus)
Carvalho, Malabarba, Endruweit, and Tobler · CC BY 4.0

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
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Characidae
Origin
Mexico, Guatemala, Belize

Overview

The Mayan tetra is an active, peaceful schooling fish for a community tank. It suits someone who has kept fish for a while.

Did you know

The Mayan tetra is one of the larger and hardier members of its genus. That made it a familiar fish in parts of Central America long before it reached the wider hobby.

Caring for the Mayan tetra

Keep Mayan tetras in a school of six or more. A tank of 16 gal (60 L) or larger gives a group enough room. Add some leaf litter or wood for tannins, and shaded planting.

Soft to moderately hard water works, though soft, slightly acidic water suits them best. Keep the temperature at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and the pH at 6.0 to 7.5.

Mayan tetras are omnivores. A varied diet of quality flakes and small granules keeps them in good shape, with the occasional frozen or live bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Keep them in a community of calm fish of a similar size. They are egg scatterers that give no parental care, and aquarium breeding is not well documented.

Good to know

Hyphessobrycon compressus is a characin in the family Characidae. Its body is laterally compressed, which helps it slip through dense plant growth. It is not considered endangered, though habitat loss is a risk to some local populations.

In the wild

The Mayan tetra comes from slow, shaded freshwater streams and rivers in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. The bottom there is sand and leaf litter, with decaying plant matter. Across its home range it shows up in everything from clear streams to murky backwaters, a sign of how adaptable it is.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

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.

What does a Mayan tetra eat?

A Mayan tetra is an omnivore. It does well on a varied diet of quality flakes and small granules, with the occasional frozen or live bloodworms and brine shrimp.

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.

How does a Mayan tetra breed?

Mayan tetras scatter their eggs and give no parental care. Breeding them in aquariums is not well documented.

Related species