Red flush tetra
Hemigrammus stictus
Also known as Red-base tetra, Redflush tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 2 in
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Ranges through the Amazon basin and the Guianas in northern South America.
Overview
The red flush tetra is a hardy, peaceful shoaling tetra for most community tanks. It is a good first fish.
Did you know
The vivid red patch at the base of the tail gives the red flush tetra its name. It lights up when a settled group is in good condition.
Caring for the red flush tetra
Keep red flush tetras in a group of at least eight, in 20 gal (75 L) or more. Good numbers deepen their red and keep them bold. The red glows strongest over a dark substrate in a well-planted tank.
They suit most soft to moderately hard setups. Keep the water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C), with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.
These peaceful tetras shoal in the middle of the tank and are safe with other community fish. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
Good to know
Hemigrammus stictus belongs to the large genus Hemigrammus, in the family Characidae. It has a red wash over the shoulder and gill area, and a dark spot at the tail base.
In the wild
Red flush tetras live in clear and blackwater streams and flooded areas of the Amazon and the Guianas. They shoal among wood, roots and marginal plants. The water there tends to be warm, soft and slightly acidic.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The red flush 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)
Marble wood shrimp
Atya scabra
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common spiny loach
Lepidocephalichthys thermalis
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Kuekenthal's halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon kuekenthali
Freshwater3.3 in (8.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a red flush tetra need?
A red flush tetra needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a red flush tetra need?
A red flush tetra is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.
How big does a red flush tetra get?
An adult red flush tetra reaches about 2 in (5 cm).
Does a red flush tetra need a group?
Yes. A red flush tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Collett's tetra
Hemigrammus collettii
2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Rummy-nose tetra
Hemigrammus rhodostomus
2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Golden tetra
Hemigrammus rodwayi
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Garnet tetra
Hemigrammus pulcher
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)17 gal (65 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Head-and-taillight tetra
Hemigrammus ocellifer
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 17 gal (65 L)
1.7 in (4.4 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Ulrey's tetra
Hemigrammus ulreyi
1.7 in (4.4 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)