Serpae Tetra

Serpae Tetra. Serpae Tetra Care Details Scientific Name Hyphessobrycon eques Common Names Jewel Tetra Red Minor Tetra Longfin Serpae Care Level Easy good for freshwater beginners Size 15 inches (4 cm) pH 5 78 Temperature 72°F 79°F (22°C 26°C) Water Hardness 10° to 25° dH Life Span 5 7 years.

Serpae tetras originate in the Amazon basin inhabiting the Guaporé and Paraguay River basins in Argentina Brazil and upper Paraguay Most specimens currently sold in the aquarium trade are captive bred rather than wildcaught the species is not endangered In the wild this species prefers still and slowmoving backwaters such as lakes ponds and streams They often congregate around Author Shirlie SharpeFamily CharacidaeOccupation AuthorOrigin Brazil and Paraguay.

Serpae Tetra 101: Care, Tank Mates, Breeding & More

Species SummaryAppearanceSizeSerpae Tetra CareFood & DietBehavior & TemperamentSerpae Tetra Tank MatesBreedingWrapping UpColorful and incredibly active the Serpae Tetra is a fish that will add some vibrancy to your tank These fish have become quite popular among the aquarist community due to their playful attitudes and stunning good looks Scientifically known as Hyphessobrycon eques these fish go by many names They’re often referred to as Jewel Tetra or Callistus Tetra in the aquarium trade Whatever you choose to call them there’s no denying their beauty Serpae Tetras are endemic to the Amazon River basin in Argentina Brazil Paraguay Peru and Bolivia Typically they can be found in slowmoving backwaters In the murky waters of their natural habitat they spend most of their time taking shelter from predators below However in a captive aquarium they are the stars of the show Serpae Tetras are part of the Characin family Thus they have that familiar profile as some other types of tetra species They’re relatively flat but have a tall frame and a trapezoidal shape The most visually striking aspect of the Serpae Tetra is their color Most specimens take on a reddishbrown color Base coloration can vary quite a bit with this species Some are more olivebrown while others take on a fiery scarlet hue Either way there’s one thing that all of these fish have in common Their scales have a shiny finish that’s shimmers in the light It creates a jewellike luster that you can’t miss Beyond their base color the Serpae Tetra has several distinct patterns on their bodies The most noticeable is the black commashaped spot on their sides Located just behind their gills this spot can fluctuate in vibrancy Some specimens even lose it altogether as they get older On the top of the fish you’ll notice a large squareshaped dorsal fin covered in dark black T The typical Serpae Tetra size when fullygrown is around 175 inches in lengthThese are not very large fish! It is possible for larger specimens to reach a full 2 inches but this is pretty rare (especially in captivity) If you purchase your fish from a disreputable seller it’s far less likely that they’ll reach their maximum size Serpae Tetra care is usually considered to be one of the easier tasks in the freshwater fishkeeping space The water conditions they need are quite manageable and they require a straightforward diet And even though they’re highly active they will rarely show signs of aggression Of course that doesn’t mean that you can ignore care guidelines Like any fish Serpae Tetras have some set conditions that you need to provide Doing so will help the fish reach their full potential while reducing the risk of any health concerns Serpae Tetras are omnivores by nature In the wild they typically eat plant matter and insect larvae floating on the surface of the water In captivity they are happy with just about anything you provide You can choose to feed your fish a regular diet of highquality flakes or pellets This can serve as the foundation of their diet It’s a good idea to supplement with some proteinrich foods as well (this will balance things out) The occasional snack of bloodworms brine shrimp and other live or frozen proteins are good as well For the most part Serpae Tetras are peaceful They are fastmoving fish that get along with several other fish species As we mentioned earlier these are community fish that thrive in larger groupsWhen paired together they’ll spend a lot of time exploring the tank Larger groups help make the fish feel more confident They behave differently and will spend less time hiding when there are other Serpae Tetras around Typically they stick to the middle and bottom of the aquarium They’ll occasionally swim to the surface (usually during feeding time) These fish do exhibit some unique swimming patterns Rather than swimming elegantly throughout the habitat they will swim in a jerky rhythm They’ll swim in short bursts before resting and starting again This can prove to be problematic in some scenarios Serpae Tetras have been known to show some slight aggression towards slowmoving with long fins They may nip the fins of Angelfish or Bettas so exercise caution The best tank mates for Serpae Tetras are other Serpae Tetras We recommend keeping a group of 5 to 7These fish may fight amongst one another but it’s usually no major cause for concern They tend to develop a pecking order within the group and will show some slight aggression towards those that are weaker Keep an eye on the group and take out any aggressors that cause harm or make it hard for other fish to eat Aside from other Serpae Tetras these fish are compatible with other fastmoving peaceful fish It’s best to avoid slow fish that could be targeted for fin nipping You should also avoid larger aggressive species that may try and eat your Serpae Tetras Here are some good tank mates to consider 1 Danios (our favorite is the Celestial Pearl) 2 Pictus Catfish 3 Bolivian Ram Cichlid 4 Bristlenose Pleco 5 Cardinal Tetra 6 Cory Catfish 7 Black Skirt Tetra 8 Twig Catfish 9 Bloodfin Tetra 10 Swordtail Fish Author Note While some aquarists have had success keeping fre Breeding Serpae Tetras is an easy process Though it must be done in a separate tank This species shows no parental instincts at all and will be a danger to your baby fish almost immediately Create a separate breeding tank that’s decorated similarly to that of the primary tank Incorporate lots of plants and consider using a breeding mop Serpae Tetras are egglayers that will scatter their eggs throughout the environment Thick vegetation and breeding mops will catch the eggs and keep them protected As for water conditions you can keep things on the softer side The pH balance should be around 60 Warmer waters up to 80 degrees may be used to trigger the breeder process Before you move your group of adult Serpae Tetras into the breeding tank condition them with some proteinrich snacks Live and frozen food will help to move the spawning process along Once your females get plumper you’ll know it’s time to start breeding Males will chase the females around causing her to Serpae Tetras are a fantastic species to keep in a freshwater tank Plain and simple Honestly they could be one of our favorite Tetras at this point (and that’s saying something) With their beauty and lowmaintenance nature they’re a good fit for just about everyone Give them a shot! You’ll be happy you did.

Serpae Tetra Real Aquatics

Serpae Tetra Tropical Fish Learn all about the Serpae Tetra&#39s feeding habits and food types its behaviour its origins its natural habitats is it male or female breeding advice and information suitable tank mates its sizing and growth range minimum tank size water PH and more.