All fish / Characidae

Colombian tetra

Hyphessobrycon columbianus

Also known as blue red colombian tetra, red blue colombian tetra, colombian red fin tetra, blue tetra, columbian tetra, colombiana tetra, コロンビアン・テトラ, tetra kolombia, 哥伦比亚灯, 哥伦比亚红鳍灯

This is a sturdy, deep-bodied tetra with a silvery blue body and bright red fins, and the blue sheen gets stronger in mature fish. It was only described in 2002. People keep it because it is hardy, active and colourful, and it adapts to a wide range of water conditions.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

5.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.8

Smallest tank

100 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Colombia: Caribbean slope rivers (Acandí, Atrato region)

Breeding

It is an egg scatterer and lays its eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, giving no parental care. Spawning in a separate tank with soft, slightly acidic water is fairly easy. Remove the adults afterwards and feed the fry infusoria first, then baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

It can nip fins and is boisterous, so keep it away from slow fish with long fins. A larger group helps spread out squabbling within the shoal.