Description
Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis)
Overview
The Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis), a small, peaceful freshwater fish native to the Amazon River basin (Brazil, Peru), grows to about 4–5 cm. It features a vibrant yellow-lemon body with a silvery sheen, black markings on the anal and caudal fins, and a distinctive red spot above the eye in some specimens. Its hardy nature, bright colouration, and schooling Behaviour make it a popular choice for community aquariums, ideal for both beginner and experienced aquarists.
Care Requirements
Tank Size:
Minimum 60 liters with at least 60 cm frontage for a group of 6–10 fish. Larger tanks (70–100 liters) are preferred for active swimming and shoaling.
Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 22–28°C, ideally 24–26°C
- pH: 5.5–7.5 (slightly acidic preferred, 6.0–7.0 optimal for breeding)
- Hardness: 2–15 dGH (soft water, 4–8 dGH for breeding)
- Nitrate: <50 mg/L
- Use a dechlorinator during water changes to neutralize tap water.
Aquarium Setup:
- Filtration: Gentle flow filter (hang-on-back or sponge) to maintain clean water without strong currents.
- Substrate: Dark, fine gravel or sand to enhance colouration and mimic natural riverbeds.
- Décor: Heavily planted tank with fine-leaved plants (e.g., Java moss, Cabomba, Anubias) and floating plants (e.g., Amazon frogbit) for cover. Add driftwood or leaf litter to simulate Amazonian habitats. Ensure open swimming space.
- Lighting: Subdued or dim to reduce stress and highlight their yellow colouration. Floating plants help diffuse light.
- Cover: Secure lid required, as they may jump if startled.
Maintenance
- Water Changes: Replace 20–30% of water every 1–2 weeks to maintain quality and prevent nitrate/ammonium buildup.
- Tank Cleaning: Regularly clean substrate and filter media to avoid pollution. Avoid overstocking to minimize waste.
- Monitoring: Test water parameters (temperature, pH, hardness, nitrate) weekly to ensure stability, as fluctuations can stress fish.
- Health: Monitor for signs of stress (fading colours, lethargy) or diseases like ich (white spots). Quarantine affected fish to prevent spread.
- Lifespan: 4–8 years with proper care.
Diet
- Natural Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates, insect larvae, algae, and plant matter in the wild.
- Aquarium Diet:
- High-quality flakes or micropellets (e.g., TetraMin, Hikari Micro Pellets) as a staple.
- Live or frozen foods (brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, mosquito larvae) to enhance colour and health.
- Occasional vegetable matter (e.g., blanched spinach, spirulina flakes) for variety.
- Feeding Frequency: Small portions 2–3 times daily to prevent overfeeding and water pollution. They feed primarily in mid-to-upper water layers.
- Variety: A diverse diet promotes vibrant colouration and overall health.
Behaviour and Compatibility
Behaviour:
Peaceful, active, and shoaling, requiring groups of 6–10+ to feel secure and display natural schooling behaviour. Solitary or small groups become stressed, shy, or prone to disease. They swim in mid-to-upper water layers and are more confident in planted, dimly lit tanks.
Compatibility:
- Ideal for community tanks with similar-sized, non-aggressive species.
- Suitable tankmates:
- Small tetras (e.g., Ember Tetras, Rummy-Nose Tetras), rasboras, danios
- Peaceful bottom-dwellers (e.g., Corydoras, Kuhli loaches)
- Dwarf cichlids (e.g., Apistogramma, Bolivian Rams), small livebearers (e.g., guppies)
- Avoid large, predatory, or fast-swimming fish (e.g., large cichlids, aggressive barbs) that may intimidate or prey on them. Mixing with closely related tetras (e.g., Neon Tetras) is possible in large tanks but monitor for competition.
- Mixing Species: Avoid mixing with similar species in small tanks to prevent hybridization or competition unless sufficient space is provided.
Breeding Behaviour
Reproduction: Moderately difficult but achievable with proper setup. Egg scatterers, laying 100–200 small
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Either come in store to view available stock or request pictures to be sent to you.
Please Note: Due to variations within species resulting from age, region, sex, etc., the actual livestock may not look identical to the image. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimens.
