Yellow Phantom Tetra

Hyphessobrycon roseus

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 68–82°F (20–28°C)
pH: 5.0–7.0
Adult size: 0.8 in (2 cm)
Minimum tank: 7 gal (25 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Suriname, French Guiana
Family: Characidae

Overview

Keep a school of at least six, since these small, mild fish are easily intimidated and look best in a group. They hold in the middle of the tank and stay fairly active once settled. Feed small foods to match the tiny mouth: crushed flake, micro pellets, and small frozen items like baby brine shrimp. A 25 liter tank can house a small school, and soft, acidic water in a planted setup keeps them at their best.

In the wild

This tiny tetra lives in the headwater streams and small forest creeks (igarapes) of Suriname and French Guiana. The water there is soft, slightly acidic, and shaded by overhanging forest, with plenty of plants. Match that with dim or planted-tank lighting, soft acidic water (pH around 5 to 7), and gentle flow in the mid 20s C.

Good to know

It is a small characin in the family Characidae, related to the phantom tetras. It is one of the smaller tetras, staying around 2 cm. It is an egg scatterer with no parental care, and breeding it takes some attention to soft, acidic conditions. The fish has a soft yellow body with a darker dorsal fin, more subtle than its red phantom relatives.

Did you know

It is still fairly new to the hobby and much less common than the red phantom tetra it resembles. Because it is so small and its color is understated, it reads best in a shaded, heavily planted tank where the soft yellow stands out against dark wood and greenery rather than under bright light.