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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
Origin
Araguaia-Tocantins and upper Tapajos basins, Brazil
Family
Characidae

Overview

An unfussy schooling tetra; keep six or more and feed flake, granules, and frozen basics. Its wider natural range shows in the tank as flexibility about water values, which makes it one of the easier rarities in this batch to settle into an ordinary community.

In the wild

The moniliger tetra ranges across the Araguaia-Tocantins system and into the upper Tapajos, in warm soft to moderately hard water. A planted community tank at 22 to 28 degrees Celsius with pH 5.5 to 7.5 covers its comfortable range.

Good to know

Hyphessobrycon moniliger reaches about 3.7 centimeters. The name comes from the Latin for necklace-bearing, after the chain-like arrangement of dark markings behind the gill cover, and its golden body tones make it easy to mistake for unrelated gold-washed tetras in shop tanks.

Did you know

Its 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.

Tank mates

Moniliger tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

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 do Moniliger tetra need?

Moniliger tetra are comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.

How big do Moniliger tetra get?

An adult Moniliger tetra reaches about 1.5 in (3.7 cm).

Do Moniliger tetra need a group?

Yes. Moniliger tetra are a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Where to buy

Some links may not be the exact species or variety.

…or ask your local fish store.

Appears in

Freshwater fish · Tetras · Schooling fish · Community fish

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