Slender hemiodus
Hemiodus gracilis
Also known as Gracile hemiodus, Slender hemiodus tetra, Red tail hemiodus
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 7.1 in
- 18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 66 gal
- 250 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Hemiodontidae
- Origin
- Native to the Amazon basin and the Guianas in northern South America.
Overview
This is a fast, nervous schooling fish that needs a long tank of at least 250 liters with open swimming lanes and a tight lid, since it jumps. Keep it in a group of 6 or more so it feels secure and stays in the open. It is peaceful and best matched with other active, non aggressive fish.
In the wild
Lives in clear, flowing rivers and streams, often over sand in open water. It is a fast, streamlined swimmer that moves in active shoals. The water is warm, soft, and well oxygenated.
Good to know
Hemiodus gracilis is a slim, silvery fish reaching around 20 cm, marked with a dark spot on the side and a stripe running into the lower tail lobe. It belongs to the family Hemiodontidae. Adults are built for speed and constant swimming.
Did you know
Built like a torpedo, it is one of the faster swimmers in the aquarium and can cover the length of a big tank in a blink.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Slender hemiodus 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.
Orinoco cupid cichlid
Biotodoma wavrini
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Narrow hatchetfish
Triportheus angulatus
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Silver dollar
Metynnis argenteus
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Owroewefi guianacara
Guianacara owroewefi
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Giant river hatchetfish
Triportheus rotundatus
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Beardless barb
Cyclocheilichthys apogon
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Slender hemiodus need?
A Slender hemiodus needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Slender hemiodus need?
A Slender hemiodus is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.
How big does a Slender hemiodus get?
An adult Slender hemiodus reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).
Does a Slender hemiodus need a group?
Yes. A Slender hemiodus is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
6.3 in (16 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Fourspot hemiodus
Hemiodus quadrimaculatus
6.3 in (16 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
11 in (28 cm)159 gal (600 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)Smallscale hemiodus
Hemiodus microlepis
11 in (28 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)
- 11.8 in (30 cm)159 gal (600 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
False hemiodus
Argonectes longiceps
11.8 in (30 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)
7.5 in (19 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)Fowler's hemiodus
Bivibranchia fowleri
7.5 in (19 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)20 gal (75 L)59–73°F (15–23°C)Fantail
Carassius auratus
7.1 in (18 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)25 gal (95 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)Pearlscale
Carassius auratus
7.1 in (18 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)