All fish / Characidae

Mexican Tetra

Hyphessobrycon compressus

Also known as mexican tetra, compressed tetra, belize tetra, mayan tetra, guatemalan tetra

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This is a small, deep-bodied tetra with a silvery body, a dark shoulder spot and reddish fins, and males show deeper colour and taller fins. It is one of the few Hyphessobrycon species from Central America and is kept by enthusiasts who like unusual, rarely seen characins in planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia and bloodworm, plus quality flakes and micro pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Atlantic slope of southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize (Usumacinta and nearby basins)

Breeding

It scatters its eggs among fine-leaved plants and gives no parental care, so the adults should be removed after spawning. Breeding has been done in captivity in soft, slightly acidic water, but the species is rarely available, so few reports exist.

Good to know

It is seldom seen in the trade and is sometimes confused with other small red-finned tetras. Like most Central American fish it copes with harder, more alkaline water than many South American tetras.