Montag's tetra
Hyphessobrycon montagi
Also known as Montagi tetra
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
- Origin
- Rio Arapiuns drainage, Para, Brazil
- Family
- Characidae
Overview
Keep a school of six or more with other calm softwater fish. It feeds readily on crushed flake, micro granules, and small frozen foods. Like most single-drainage tetras, what it wants above all is stability: steady warmth, steady softness, and a quiet tank.
In the wild
Montag's tetra comes from headwater streams of the rio Arapiuns near Juruti in Para, clear to tannin-stained water over sand. Keep it in soft, warm water at 23 to 28 degrees Celsius, pH 5.0 to 7.0, with a dark bottom and scattered leaf litter.
Good to know
Hyphessobrycon montagi was described in 2014 from the Arapiuns drainage, a lower Amazon tributary system, and reaches about 3.7 centimeters. Its home streams include the rio Arua, and it remains known from that compact corner of Para.
Did you know
Importers occasionally offer mystery tetras labeled simply Arua after its home river, and some of those bags almost certainly hold this species.
Tank mates
Montag's tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Barred pencilfish
Nannostomus espeiFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Volcano cory
Osteogaster hephaestusFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Variable platy
Xiphophorus variatusFreshwater2.8 in (7 cm)15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Hockeystick pencilfish
Nannostomus equesFreshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Pygmy gourami
Trichopsis pumilaFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Bridge dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma gephyraFreshwater1.8 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 do Montag's tetra need?
Montag's tetra are comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.0.
How big do Montag's tetra get?
An adult Montag's tetra reaches about 1.5 in (3.7 cm).
Do Montag's tetra need a group?
Yes. Montag's 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
Keeping Montag's tetra?
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Planning tankmates
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Related species
Clavatus tetra
Hyphessobrycon clavatusFreshwater1.5 in (3.7 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Moniliger tetra
Hyphessobrycon moniligerFreshwater1.5 in (3.7 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Eschwartzae tetra
Hyphessobrycon eschwartzaeFreshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Peugeot's tetra
Hyphessobrycon peugeotiFreshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Procyon tetra
Hyphessobrycon procyonFreshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Piabinhas tetra
Hyphessobrycon piabinhasFreshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm)15 gal (55 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)