Peruvian Tetra

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Scientific Name

Hyphessobrycon peruvianus

Min. Tank Size

25 gallons

Personality

Peaceful

Temperature

72-80°F

pH

5.5-7.5/0-12°dGH

Size

1.75"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Best kept in shoals with 6 or more of its own species; can be kept with other small Characins, Catfish and Dwarf Cichlids.

Peruvian Tetra

One of the less common Tetras in the aquarium trade, the Peruvian Tetra is similar to the Loreto Tetra and is sometimes called the Blue Loreto Tetra. These fish are native to the upper Amazon River basin in Peru. This species is similar in appearance to the Black Neon Tetra, having a light gray or silver body ornamented with a lateral silver or gold stripe running along the body from the gills to the base of the caudal fin. The portion of the body below this stripe is often black in color, sometimes having a metallic green tinge in the area just behind the gills.

Tank Set-Up

Peruvian Tetras are a peaceful species, ideally kept in a South American biotype tank with other small Tetras, Cichlids and Catfish. Because they are shoaling fish, Peruvian Tetras should be kept in groups with at least 6 of their own species. These fish prefer densely planted tanks and enjoy some floating vegetation to diffuse the light. Because these fish are native to the Amazon River, they may also benefit from peat filtering to stain the tank water, creating a blackwater environment.

Feeding

Feed the Peruvian Tetra as you would most Tetras. For optimum health and coloration, feed a varied diet of live/frozen foods such as brine shrimp, Daphnia, and bloodworms along with a high quality flake.

Breeding

There is little information available about breeding Peruvian Tetras because they are not frequently kept in the home aquarium. It is believed, however, that they follow similar breeding behaviors to other Tetra species. A sexually mature pair should be conditioned on live foods then introduced into a breeding tank. This tank should be filled with soft, slightly acidic water and it should be decorated with plenty of fine-leaved plants on which the fish may deposit their eggs. After spawning, remove the parent fish – the eggs should hatch between 2 and 3 days later.