Melanostichos tetra
Hyphessobrycon melanostichos
Also known as Tapajos blackline tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 1.7 in
- 4.4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 16 gal
- 60 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Rio Doze de Outubro, upper Tapajos basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Overview
The Melanostichos tetra is a striped schooling tetra for the middle of the tank. It is robust enough for a general soft-water community, and it suits a dedicated Tapajos biotope as well. It is a good pick once you know the basics.
Did you know
The Melanostichos tetra shares one small river with the notidanos tetra, another species described in the same paper. The two neighbors entered the scientific record side by side.
Caring for the Melanostichos tetra
Keep Melanostichos tetras in a group of six or more, in a tank of 16 gal (60 L) or larger. They are active swimmers, so give them length to run. A dark substrate, plants along the back and open water in front suit them.
Keep the water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C), with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. They accept all standard small foods.
Melanostichos tetras are peaceful. In a Tapajos biotope, corys from the same drainage make good companions.
Good to know
Hyphessobrycon melanostichos is a characin in the family Characidae, described in 2006 and also sold as the Tapajos blackline tetra. The name means black line, for the thick dark stripe that runs from the gill plate to the tail. In healthy adults, the stripe pairs with a blue-green sheen along the upper body.
In the wild
The Melanostichos tetra lives in the Rio Doze de Outubro in the upper Tapajos basin, in Mato Grosso, Brazil. The river runs clear and soft through the forest.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Melanostichos 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.
White spotted rabbit snail
Tylomelania towutica
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Golden dwarf cichlid
Nannacara anomala
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Clown killifish
Epiplatys annulatus
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Ceros tetra
Moenkhausia ceros
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)
Shelford's kuhli loach
Pangio shelfordii
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Melanostichos tetra need?
A Melanostichos tetra needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Melanostichos tetra need?
A Melanostichos tetra is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
What does a Melanostichos tetra eat?
A Melanostichos tetra accepts all standard small foods.
How big does a Melanostichos tetra get?
An adult Melanostichos tetra reaches about 1.7 in (4.4 cm).
Does a Melanostichos tetra need a group?
Yes. A Melanostichos tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
1.7 in (4.4 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Lapis tetra
Hyphessobrycon cyanotaenia
1.7 in (4.4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.7 in (4.4 cm)16 gal (60 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)Robustulus tetra
Hyphessobrycon robustulus
1.7 in (4.4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Mayan tetra
Hyphessobrycon compressus
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
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
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 17 gal (65 L)