Piabinhas tetra
Hyphessobrycon piabinhas
Also known as Fortaleza tetra, Red Fin Tetra
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F (23–28°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 15 gal (55 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Coastal drainages near Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil
- Family
- Characidae
Overview
Keep six or more in a warm community; it is not fussy about food, taking flake, granules, and frozen basics. Its coastal origins mean it handles ordinary tap-water hardness better than blackwater species, a practical plus for an otherwise obscure fish.
In the wild
This tetra comes from coastal lowland waters around Fortaleza in Ceara, a hot corner of northeastern Brazil far from the Amazon. It is comfortable warm, 23 to 28 degrees Celsius, in near-neutral water of pH 6.0 to 7.5 with plant cover.
Good to know
Hyphessobrycon piabinhas was described by Fowler in 1941 and reaches about 3.8 centimeters. The name comes from piabinha, the Brazilian diminutive for a small silvery tetra, essentially naming the fish little tetra in its own language.
Did you know
Piabinha is what kids along Brazilian rivers call any little silver fish they catch; this species turned the nickname into its formal scientific name.
Tank mates
Piabinhas tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Green neon tetra
Paracheirodon simulansFreshwater1 in (2.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)Many-spotted cory
Hoplisoma polystictumFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Masked cory
Hoplisoma metaeFreshwater2 in (5 cm)15 gal (55 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Coral red pencilfish
Nannostomus mortenthaleriFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Martin's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma martiniFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Volcano rasbora
Rasbora vulcanusFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Piabinhas tetra need?
A Piabinhas tetra needs at least 15 gal (55 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH do Piabinhas tetra need?
Piabinhas tetra are comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big do Piabinhas tetra get?
An adult Piabinhas tetra reaches about 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Do Piabinhas tetra need a group?
Yes. Piabinhas 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 Piabinhas tetra?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Planning tankmates
See how Piabinhas tetra fits a stocking plan. Open the stocking calculator
Add to your site
Show this species on your own site: a shortcode for WordPress, or an HTML embed for anywhere else.
Related species
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)
Clavatus tetra
Hyphessobrycon clavatusFreshwater1.5 in (3.7 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Montag's tetra
Hyphessobrycon montagiFreshwater1.5 in (3.7 cm)15 gal (55 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Moniliger tetra
Hyphessobrycon moniligerFreshwater1.5 in (3.7 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)