Micropterus tetra
Hyphessobrycon micropterus
Also known as Megalamphodus micropterus, Strawberry Tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 1.3 in
- 3.2 cm
- Minimum tank
- 12 gal
- 45 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Sao Francisco basin, Brazil
Overview
The Micropterus tetra is a small, peaceful schooling tetra for a planted community tank. It is moderately demanding, a notch above beginner fish.
Did you know
The Micropterus tetra's home river, the Sao Francisco, is nicknamed the river of national unity in Brazil. It flows 2,900 kilometers through five states, none of them Amazonian.
Caring for the Micropterus tetra
Keep Micropterus tetras in a group of six or more, in a planted tank of 12 gal (45 L) or larger. Give them modest flow.
Sao Francisco fish tolerate harder water than their Amazon cousins, so this phantom tetra suits keepers whose tap water never reads soft. Keep the water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
Feed crushed flake, granules and small frozen foods. Micropterus tetras are peaceful, so keep them with other small, easygoing fish.
Good to know
Hyphessobrycon micropterus is a characin in the family Characidae, and its species name means small fin. It is also listed as Megalamphodus micropterus, grouped with the phantom tetras. It shows that group's trademark shoulder blotch on a compact, deep body, and some shops sell it as the strawberry tetra.
In the wild
The Micropterus tetra comes from the Sao Francisco basin, a big Brazilian river system where the water runs closer to neutral.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Micropterus 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.
Green panchax
Aplocheilus blockii
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Bamboo shrimp
Atyopsis moluccensis
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 13 gal (50 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)
Wandering snail
Ampullaceana balthica
Freshwater0.8 in (2 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)50–84°F (10–29°C)
Bumblebee otocinclus
Rhinotocinclus isabelae
Freshwater0.8 in (2 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Glowlight rasbora
Trigonostigma hengeli
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Pygmy hatchetfish
Carnegiella myersi
Freshwater1 in (2.5 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Micropterus tetra need?
A Micropterus tetra needs at least 12 gal (45 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Micropterus tetra need?
A Micropterus tetra is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a Micropterus tetra eat?
A Micropterus tetra takes crushed flake, granules and small frozen foods.
How big does a Micropterus tetra get?
An adult Micropterus tetra reaches about 1.3 in (3.2 cm).
Does a Micropterus tetra need a group?
Yes. A Micropterus tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
1.3 in (3.4 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Kitty tetra
Hyphessobrycon heliacus
1.3 in (3.4 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)
1.3 in (3.4 cm)15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Negodagua tetra
Hyphessobrycon negodagua
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1.2 in (3 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Eilyos tetra
Hyphessobrycon eilyos
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1.2 in (3 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Weitzman's tetra
Hyphessobrycon weitzmanorum
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1.4 in (3.5 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Black neon tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
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