Procyon tetra
Hyphessobrycon procyon
Also known as Procyon dwarf tetra, Raccoon Tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- 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
- Common
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Brazil
Overview
The Procyon tetra is a small, peaceful schooling tetra for a community tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.
Did you know
The Procyon tetra shares its name with Procyon, one of the brightest stars in the night sky. The name fits a fish whose prominent dark tail-base blotch flashes like a beacon when the school turns.
Caring for the Procyon tetra
Keep Procyon tetras in a group of six or more, in 15 gal (55 L) or larger. Give them a dark substrate, wood and leaves, and gentle filtration.
Keep the water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Feed crushed flake, granules, and frozen daphnia or brine shrimp.
Procyon tetras are peaceful, so choose small, peaceful tank mates. As with most freshly described tetras, the first keepers of this species are still writing up captive observations. Notes on your own fish are worth keeping.
Good to know
The Procyon tetra, Hyphessobrycon procyon, is a recent addition to the genus in the family Characidae. It is still thinly documented beyond its description.
In the wild
The Procyon tetra comes from soft interior waters of Brazil.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Procyon 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.
Zebra pleco
Hypancistrus zebra
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Fire halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon kapuasensis
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Hockeystick pencilfish
Nannostomus eques
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Shelford's kuhli loach
Pangio shelfordii
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
New Guinea blue-eye
Pseudomugil novaeguineae
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Spotted danio
Danio nigrofasciatus
Freshwater1.5 in (3.7 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Procyon tetra need?
A Procyon tetra needs at least 15 gal (55 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Procyon tetra need?
A Procyon tetra is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
What does a Procyon tetra eat?
A Procyon tetra takes crushed flake, granules, and frozen daphnia or brine shrimp.
How big does a Procyon tetra get?
An adult Procyon tetra reaches about 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Does a Procyon tetra need a group?
Yes. A Procyon tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
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)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Piabinhas tetra
Hyphessobrycon piabinhas
1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
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 (3.7 cm)15 gal (55 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Montag's tetra
Hyphessobrycon montagi
1.5 in (3.7 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)