All fish / Characidae

Blue Tetra

Hyphessobrycon coelestinus

Also known as celestial tetra, blue tetra, coelestinus tetra, hyphessobrycon celestinus

This small Brazilian tetra has a silvery body with a blue sheen, and often shows reddish tints in the fins. People keep it as a hardy, active shoaling fish for planted community tanks, and it copes with slightly cooler water than many tetras.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Eastern and southern Brazil (Paraná and coastal river basins)

Breeding

It scatters eggs over fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, and the adults give no parental care and will eat the eggs. Breeding is fairly easy in a separate tank with soft, slightly acidic water, and the fry need infusoria first.

Good to know

It is uncommon in the trade and is sometimes confused with other bluish Hyphessobrycon species. Kept in small numbers it may nip fins, so keep a proper shoal.