Peruvian tetra
Hyphessobrycon peruvianus
Also known as Blue loreto tetra, Peruvian blue tetra, Loreto blue tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 1.6 in
- 4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 16 gal
- 60 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Native to the upper Amazon in the Loreto region of northeastern Peru.
Overview
The Peruvian tetra is a slim, peaceful schooling tetra for a soft-water community tank. It is best kept by someone past the beginner stage.
Did you know
The Peruvian tetra has a soft blue and gold glow along the top of its black stripe. That glow is why the trade often calls it the blue loreto tetra.
Caring for the Peruvian tetra
Keep Peruvian tetras in a shoal of at least eight to bring out their blue shimmer. Give them 16 gal (60 L) or more, with a dark substrate and gentle lighting to deepen the colors.
Keep the water soft and clean, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. They are peaceful and mix well with other small characins and dwarf cichlids. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
Good to know
The Peruvian tetra, Hyphessobrycon peruvianus, belongs to the family Characidae. It is easily confused with the loreto tetra and often mixed with it in shipments. Both share the same corner of Peru.
In the wild
The Peruvian tetra comes from the upper Amazon in the Loreto region of northeastern Peru. It lives in soft, tannin-stained streams and tributaries, gentle and shaded waters over sand and leaf litter. The fish shoal quietly in the middle water.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Peruvian 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.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Spotted splash tetra
Copella nattereri
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
White spotted rabbit snail
Tylomelania towutica
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Fire-tail dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma eremnopyge
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Peruvian tetra need?
A Peruvian tetra needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Peruvian tetra need?
A Peruvian tetra is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
How big does a Peruvian tetra get?
An adult Peruvian tetra reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).
Does a Peruvian tetra need a group?
Yes. A Peruvian tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
1.6 in (4 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Epicharis tetra
Hyphessobrycon epicharis
1.6 in (4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Madre de Dios tetra
Hyphessobrycon nigricinctus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Parrot tetra
Hyphessobrycon psittacus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Red phantom tetra
Hyphessobrycon sweglesi
1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Rosy tetra
Hyphessobrycon rosaceus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Vinaceus tetra
Hyphessobrycon vinaceus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)