All fish / Characidae

Auca tetra

Hyphessobrycon auca

Also known as auca tetra, hyphessobrycon sp. auca

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A small, slim tetra from Ecuador, described in 2016, with a silvery body, a dark lateral band and reddish tones in the fins. It is kept for its gentle nature and its suitability for planted community tanks with other small, calm fish.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

5.5 to 7.2

Smallest tank

54 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin, Ecuador (Napo and Curaray drainages)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that gives no parental care and will eat its own eggs. Spawning is likely in soft, slightly acidic water with fine-leaved plants or a mesh base, and the tiny fry need infusoria at first; captive breeding records are few.

Good to know

A recently described species that turns up only now and then in the trade, so reliable care data is limited. Treat the figures here as estimates based on similar small Hyphessobrycon.