All fish / Acestrorhamphidae

Togo's tetra

Psalidodon togoi

Also known as hyphessobrycon togoi, psalidodon togoi, togoi tetra, togo tetra, 托氏脂鲤

A small, silvery tetra from subtropical streams in northeastern Argentina, with a dark mark near the shoulder and tail base and warm-toned fins. It is mostly kept by enthusiasts of South American biotopes and native fish collectors, as it is hardy, active and suits cooler unheated rooms.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

18 to 25 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and small granules, with live or frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Argentina: La Plata basin (Misiones, upper Paraná and Uruguay drainages)

Breeding

It scatters eggs among fine plants or spawning mops and gives no parental care, so adults should be removed after spawning. Mature males grow tiny bony hooks on their fins, and spawning in captivity is thought to be fairly simple, much like other small Astyanax-type tetras.

Good to know

Seldom seen in shops and easy to confuse with other plain silvery Psalidodon and Astyanax species, so confirm the identity with the seller. It likes cooler water than most tetras and should not be kept with tropical fish that need high temperatures.