Peruvian tetra

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep a shoal of at least 8 to bring out the blue shimmer above the dark stripe. It is peaceful and undemanding in soft, clean water and mixes well with other small characins and dwarf cichlids. Dark substrate and gentle lighting deepen the colors.

In the wild

Comes from soft, tannin stained streams and tributaries of the upper Amazon in Peru. These are gentle, shaded waters over sand and leaf litter. The fish shoal quietly in the middle water.

Good to know

Hyphessobrycon peruvianus is a slim tetra of around 4 cm with a dark lateral stripe topped by a soft blue and gold sheen. It is easily confused with the loreto tetra and often mixed with it in shipments. Both share the same corner of Peru.

Did you know

A soft blue and gold glow runs along the top of the black stripe, which is why the trade often calls it the blue loreto tetra.

Related species

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  Red phantom tetra

  Hyphessobrycon sweglesi

  1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Rosy tetra

  Hyphessobrycon rosaceus

  1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Black phantom tetra

  Hyphessobrycon megalopterus

  1.4 in (3.6 cm)17 gal (65 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)

• 

  Mayan Tetra

  Hyphessobrycon compressus

  1.8 in (4.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

• 

  Ornate tetra

  Hyphessobrycon bentosi

  1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Serpae tetra

  Hyphessobrycon serpae

  1.8 in (4.5 cm)17 gal (65 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)