Montag's tetra
Hyphessobrycon montagi
Also known as Montagi tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 5.0–7.0
- 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
- Rio Arapiuns drainage, Para, Brazil
Overview
Montag's tetra is a small, peaceful schooling fish for a quiet softwater community tank. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.
Did you know
Montag's tetra almost certainly reaches the trade under another name. Importers occasionally offer mystery tetras labeled simply Arua, after its home river, and some of those bags hold this species.
Caring for the Montag's tetra
Keep Montag's tetras in a school of six or more, in a quiet tank of 15 gal (55 L) or larger. A dark bottom with scattered leaf litter suits them, and they swim in the middle of the tank.
Montag's tetra, like most tetras known from a single drainage, wants stability above all. Keep the water steadily warm and soft, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 7.0.
Montag's tetras feed readily on crushed flake, micro granules and small frozen foods. They are peaceful and safe in a community, so keep them with other calm softwater fish.
Good to know
Montag's tetra, Hyphessobrycon montagi, belongs to the family Characidae and was described in 2014. It remains known from one compact corner of Para.
In the wild
Montag's tetra comes from headwater streams of the rio Arapiuns near Juruti in Para, Brazil. The Arapiuns is a lower Amazon tributary system, and these streams run clear to tannin-stained over sand. Its home streams include the rio Arua.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Montag's 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.
Scherer's hatchetfish
Carnegiella schereri
Freshwater1 in (2.6 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Green lace shrimp
Atyoida pilipes
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Zebra pleco
Hypancistrus zebra
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Harlequin rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
New Guinea blue-eye
Pseudomugil novaeguineae
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Bridge dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma gephyra
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Montag's tetra need?
A Montag's tetra needs at least 15 gal (55 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Montag's tetra need?
A Montag's tetra is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.0.
What does a Montag's tetra eat?
A Montag's tetra feeds readily on crushed flake, micro granules and small frozen foods.
How big does a Montag's tetra get?
An adult Montag's tetra reaches about 1.5 in (3.7 cm).
Does a Montag's tetra need a group?
Yes. A Montag's 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)72–82°F (22–28°C)Moniliger tetra
Hyphessobrycon moniliger
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)