Colourful and very active, the Serpae Tetra will definitely add some vibrancy to your tank!
Visit Wholesale Tropicals in Bethnal Green to see our fantastic fish stock.
Serpae Tetra
£2.50
Description
The Serpae tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques), also known as the Red Minor tetra, Jewel tetra or Callistus tetra, is a species of tetra, a tropical freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of the order Characiformes. It is native to the Amazon River drainage in Brazil, Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia and northern Argentina. The fish can be found in slow-moving or still backwater including, ponds, small lakes, and streams. In the wild, it forms aggregations around vegetation and tree roots and thrives when the water temperature is 22-27 °C (72-82 °F).
Serpae tetra can grow to be 5 cm (2 in). They have very distinctive colouring with a red body and a black spot near their gills. It is an omnivore and will feed on flakes and blood worms.
Serpae tetras prefer water temperatures ranging from 72–79 °F (22–26 °C). They will generally do better and show off their best colours in soft, neutral to slightly acidic water. As with any other schooling fish, they thrive in large groups and should be kept in schools of at least six fish. The tank should be well-planted, providing shelter and hiding spots.
Common to these fish is a ‘sputtering’ or ‘twitching’ style of swimming, in which their movements seem more spastic as opposed to other fish. Instead of swimming smoothly or for long distances at a time, Serpae Tetras move in relatively short spurts, unless stressed. This is their normal behaviour and by itself need not alarm aquarists.
If any aggression is seen in the fish, it is usually among conspecifics, especially if they are kept in large groups where they can establish a pecking order.
