Moniliger tetra
Hyphessobrycon moniliger
Also known as Necklace tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- 22–28°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 1.5 in
- 3.7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 15 gal
- 55 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Araguaia-Tocantins and upper Tapajos basins, Brazil
Overview
The Moniliger tetra is a peaceful schooling tetra, and one of the easier rarities to settle into an ordinary community tank. It is still a step up from beginner fish.
Did you know
The Moniliger tetra's golden sheen invites confusion with the classic golden tetra of the hobby, a completely different species. The necklace of dark marks behind the head is how you tell this one apart.
Caring for the Moniliger tetra
Keep Moniliger tetras in a group of six or more, in a planted community tank of 15 gal (55 L) or larger. Their wide natural range shows in the tank as flexibility about water values. Keep them at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.5, which covers their comfortable range.
Feed flake, granules and frozen basics. Moniliger tetras are unfussy and peaceful, and they mix well with other community fish.
Good to know
Hyphessobrycon moniliger is a characin in the family Characidae, also sold as the necklace tetra. Its species name comes from the Latin for necklace-bearing, after the chain of dark markings behind the gill cover.
In the wild
The Moniliger tetra ranges across the Araguaia-Tocantins system and into the upper Tapajos in Brazil. It lives in warm water that runs from soft to moderately hard.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Moniliger 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)
Green lace shrimp
Atyoida pilipes
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Shelford's kuhli loach
Pangio shelfordii
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Barred pencilfish
Nannostomus espei
Freshwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Scherer's hatchetfish
Carnegiella schereri
Freshwater1 in (2.6 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Blackstripe cory
Hoplisoma bondi
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Moniliger tetra need?
A Moniliger tetra needs at least 15 gal (55 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Moniliger tetra need?
A Moniliger tetra is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.
What does a Moniliger tetra eat?
A Moniliger tetra eats flake, granules and frozen basics.
How big does a Moniliger tetra get?
An adult Moniliger tetra reaches about 1.5 in (3.7 cm).
Does a Moniliger tetra need a group?
Yes. A Moniliger tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
1.5 in (3.7 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Clavatus tetra
Hyphessobrycon clavatus
1.5 in (3.7 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.5 in (3.7 cm)15 gal (55 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Montag's tetra
Hyphessobrycon montagi
1.5 in (3.7 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.5 in (3.8 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Eschwartzae tetra
Hyphessobrycon eschwartzae
1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.5 in (3.8 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Peugeot's tetra
Hyphessobrycon peugeoti
1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.5 in (3.8 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Procyon tetra
Hyphessobrycon procyon
1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
- 1.5 in (3.8 cm)15 gal (55 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Piabinhas tetra
Hyphessobrycon piabinhas
1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)