TankBud

Serpae tetra

Hyphessobrycon eques

Also known as Hyphessobrycon serpae, Megalamphodus eques, Jewel tetra, Red minor tetra

FreshwaterFish

Serpae tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques)
Dubrovsky Alexander (Aledubr) · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in
4.5 cm
Minimum tank
17 gal
65 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Hard
Rarity
Common
Family
Characidae
Origin
Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina

Overview

The Serpae tetra is a small, red schooling fish for a planted community tank. It is easy to keep with the right tank mates.

Did you know

The Serpae tetra's fin-nipping is not random aggression so much as a side effect of a busy, peck-order-driven school.

Caring for the Serpae tetra

Keep Serpae tetras in a group of at least six, and lean toward a larger group, in 17 gal (65 L) or more. A planted tank with driftwood, some cover and a darker substrate brings out their color and keeps them comfortable. Leave open swimming lanes between the planting so the group can move.

Keep the water at 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C) with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Feed flake and small pellets, with occasional live or frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms.

Serpae tetras hold the middle of the tank and are peaceful, but they are known fin-nippers. In a tight, well-fed school the nipping mostly stays within the group. A lone fish or a tiny pair is far more likely to harass slower fish. Avoid slow, long-finned tank mates such as bettas and angelfish.

They are egg scatterers that give no parental care, and the eggs hatch in roughly a day to a day and a half. Captive breeding is challenging.

Good to know

Hyphessobrycon eques is a characin in the family Characidae, known for its deep red body and a dark comma-shaped mark behind the gills. It is not listed as threatened in its native range.

In the wild

Serpae tetras come from the Amazon basin across Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. They live in slow rivers, streams and seasonal floodplains, among dense plants, submerged roots and fallen leaves. The water there is soft and slightly acidic to neutral.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Serpae tetra is a mostly 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Serpae tetra need?

A Serpae tetra needs at least 17 gal (65 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Serpae tetra need?

A Serpae tetra is comfortable at 68–82°F (20–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.

What does a Serpae tetra eat?

A Serpae tetra eats flake and small pellets. Give it occasional live or frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms as well.

How big does a Serpae tetra get?

An adult Serpae tetra reaches about 1.8 in (4.5 cm).

Does a Serpae tetra need a group?

Yes. A Serpae tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a Serpae tetra breed?

Serpae tetras are egg scatterers and give no parental care. Their eggs hatch in roughly a day to a day and a half, and captive breeding is challenging.

Related species