Give them bloodworms or brine shrimp on occasion. To keep them healthiest, augment their diet with freeze-dried, frozen, and live foods. They will readily eat commercial flake and pellet food. Tetras ( cardinal, black skirt, bloodfin, or neon tetra).They may nip at the fins of slower-swimming, long-finned fish.Ĭonsider the following to pair with your serpae tetra: Keep your tetras with other fast-swimming fish. Tank MatesĪs we have mentioned, to keep your fish happiest and healthiest, they need other serpae tetras. Use lower-powered lighting to better replicate their natural habitat. Install a canister filter that permits slow water movement. Water hardness should be between 10 to 25 dGH. Maintain the pH level between 5 and 7.8 and the temperature between 72 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit (22 to 26 ☌). Using blackwater extract or peat can help keep the water soft and acidic. They are sensitive to water parameter fluctuations, so a mature tank is best. Myriophyllum aquatic plant Water Conditionsĭo not introduce your serpae tetra to a freshly set-up tank. Keep the plants and decorations along the edges and the middle of the tank clear for swimming. Java moss is an excellent option for a planted tank with serpae tetras Decorate with both live aquarium plants and driftwood or rocks along the edges to give your serpae tetras places to hide.Ĭonsider java moss or Myriophyllum to provide shelter for your fish. Line your 20-gallon tank with a dark, sandy substrate. Setting up your fish tank to accommodate serpae tetras is simple. This will allow space for these active swimmers to explore as well as room for plants and objects along the tank bottom. How many per gallon?īecause this species does best in a group of six or more, plan on a minimum tank size of 20-gallons. This species swims in a unique manner that is best described as “jerky.” They are fast swimmers that will speed for a short time, stop, and speed off again. Having a tank with objects they can explore will keep them interested. They like to chase each other and will generally leave other fish alone. Your group of these tetras will generally stay in the middle to bottom tank areas. This species can be a bit timid, so having plenty of hiding places may increase their comfort and limit any aggressive behavior. Keeping a group of six or more tetras together may reduce the odds of this happening. Serpae tetras do have a reputation as fin nippers. As with all fish, diet and environment can affect the lifespan of your fish. LifespanĪ serpae tetra can live anywhere from five to seven years. SizeĮxpect your serpae tetra to grow to a length of 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) as an adult. There is not much variation between males and females of the species.įemales can be slightly less vibrant in color and rounder when carrying eggs. The serpae tetra has a flat and tall body shape. The vibrancy of the tetra’s colors can grow or fade depending on their health, diet, and environment. The anal fin is shaped like an elongated triangle and the tail is forked. Their dorsal fin is square-shaped and dark black with a slight white edge. Serpae tetras have a black spot just behind the gills. This glittering, jewel-like appearance gives the serpae tetra its other common names: jewel tetra and red minor tetra. Most of the species are a vibrant red-brown color, with shimmering scales that reflect the light. The first thing you notice about the serpae tetra is its brilliant color. Serpae tetras tend to stay near submerged roots and vegetation, where they can find both shelter and food. These waters are darker and have plentiful vegetation. They prefer slower-moving waters found in ponds, lakes, and streams. They inhabit the rivers of the Guaporé region in Bolivia and the upper Paraguay River basin. In the wild, serpae tetras are found in South America. This freshwater fish is an aquarium favorite for its beauty and playfulness. The serpae tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques) is a strikingly colored member of the Characidae family.
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