All fish / Characidae

Forest tetra

Moenkhausia forestii

Also known as bario forestii, forestii tetra, red eye tetra forestii, mato grosso moenkhausia

A deep-bodied, silvery tetra with a dark shoulder mark, a black spot at the tail base and warm yellowish tones on the fins. It was described in 2006 and is kept as a hardy, active shoaling fish for planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Paraguay River basin, Brazil (Mato Grosso)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that spawns among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops and gives no parental care. It is not often bred in home tanks, but the adults should be removed after spawning as they will eat the eggs.

Good to know

Sometimes nibbles long-finned tankmates, so avoid keeping it with bettas or fancy guppies. It is less often seen in the trade than the similar red eye tetra, Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae.