All fish / Characidae

Blueberry Tetra

Hyphessobrycon wadai

Also known as blueberry tetra, wada's tetra, purple tetra, hyphessobrycon sp. blueberry, ブルーベリーテトラ, 蓝莓灯

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This small, deep-bodied tetra has a violet-blue sheen, a dark shoulder spot and dark-edged fins, and the colour gets stronger in males as they mature. It was only described in 2016, but it has quickly become popular as a calm, colourful shoaling fish for planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

5.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Rio Tapajós basin, Brazil

Breeding

It scatters its eggs among fine plants and does not look after them. Tank-bred stock spawns fairly readily in soft, slightly acidic water. Move the adults out after spawning so they do not eat the eggs, then feed the fry infusoria.

Good to know

Males put on short sparring displays at each other, but they rarely do any harm. Keep them in a group with plenty of plant cover, and do not house them with large or fin-nipping fish.