All fish / Characidae

Loreto tetra

Hyphessobrycon peruvianus

Also known as loreto tetra, peruvian tetra, hyphessobrycon loretoensis, black line tetra peru, ロレトテトラ, 秘鲁灯

A small, slim tetra with a dark band running along each side and reddish tints in the fins. It comes from soft, acidic blackwater forest streams and looks best in a dimly lit, planted tank with leaf litter. Keepers like it as a calm nano shoaling fish.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

54 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

Upper Amazon basin in Peru, Colombia and Brazil

Breeding

It scatters eggs among fine plants or spawning mops and gives no parental care. Spawning is possible in soft, acidic water with the adults removed afterwards, but the tiny fry need infusoria at first.

Good to know

Often mislabelled and confused with similar small striped Hyphessobrycon species. Wild-caught fish can be delicate, so acclimatise them slowly to soft water.