All fish / Characidae

Elegant Tetra

Hemigrammus elegans

Also known as elegant tetra, hemigrammus elegans tetra

This is a small, slim tetra from the Amazon with a silvery body, a thin dark line along the flank and a dark mark near the tail. It is kept for the same reason as other small tetras: a shoal moves together in a calm, natural way, and it suits peaceful planted community tanks with soft water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

5.5 to 7

Smallest tank

54 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small flakes, micro pellets, frozen daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Amazon basin, Brazil

Breeding

It scatters its eggs among fine plants and does not look after them. Breeding in captivity is rarely reported. Soft, acidic water and a separate breeding tank should give the best chance, but the parents should be taken out after spawning so they do not eat the eggs.

Good to know

It is seldom sold under its own name and is easy to mix up with other small silvery Hemigrammus species, so check the identity before you buy. Its small size makes it easy prey for larger fish.