Aquarium Fish Experts fish tanks

Family: Characidae

Distribution: Located in South America, Hasemania nana prefers the smaller water streams found in Rio Purus and Rio San Francisco, Brazil.

PH: 6 – 7.5 pH

Temperature: 23 – 27 °C (73 – 81°F)

Hardness: 5 – 20 dH

Description: The Silver Tip Tetra can be quite aggressive if kept in groups less than 6.  It is also recommended to have larger fish in a community tank.  They are active, lively fish that enjoy swimming against a somewhat strong current (impersonating their natural habitat).

The Hasemania nana can grow up to 5cm and will display a yellow to gray body colour.  Their heads are silver-white, the fins have a yellow hue, and the rear fins display a silver tip (hence their name).  The males tend to have brighter colouration which is often gold, whilst females may have a yellow (rather than white or silver) tip on their anal fin.

Diet: Hasemania nana are omnivorous and will thrive on a diet consisting of both flake food and live foods.

Breeding: Although it can be difficult to breed the Silver Top Tetra – owing to their aggressiveness when not kept in large groups – it is possible.  Use a large tank for breeding with marbles or mesh netting for the eggs to fall below.  The parents are cannibalistic.  Lower the pH to 5.5 – 6.5 and the water hardness to 2 – 5 dH (keep the temperature steady).  The eggs will hatch within two days and the fry can be fed on finely crushed flake or live food.

Comments: Despite their aggressiveness, the Silver Tip Tetra may be kept by anyone from an enthusiastic beginner to an expert.  They can provide much movement and colour to a community tank.

Set them up in a large (200L) tank with some plants around the sides.  Floating plants will help to emulate their natural habitat and to diffuse the light.  They require plenty of room to swim around in.

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Recommended Compatible Species: They should live happily with other Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They also should be good tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, Corydoras Catfish  (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami (such as the Blue Gouramiand Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio)  and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.

Family: Characidae

Distribution: Hemigrammus cupreus is endemic to the basin of Rio Solimões.  This river is a section of the Amazon, starting at the border of Peru and flowing through to the Rio Negro in Brazil.  At the point of meeting, the water is cloudy and torbid, full of organic sediment.  The waters then surge on over a large plain that annually floods.  Thus, this species can also be found in various flooded areas in the floodplain.

PH: 6.5 – 7.2 pH

Temperature: 23 – 26°C (74 – 79°F)

Hardness: 5 – 15 dH

Description: This fish is rarely imported, thus there is little information available regarding social behaviour, colouration and compatibility in a community tank.  If it is anything like its Hemigrammus relatives, it will be peaceful, active and enjoy other non-boisterous and non-aggressive species.

Hemigrammus cupreus prefers shoals of at least 6 (but try for 10).  Their maximum length is disputed: some state that it will not reach over 3.5cm; others say it can hit over 5cm.

The adults are reported smaller and slimmer than the females and display brighter colouration.

Diet: Yet another easy-to-feed species, Hemigrammus cupreus enjoys a varied omnivorous diet.  Use flakes and live or frozen foods.

Breeding: Use the breeding method that is common to the Hemigrammus species.  Set up a separate breeding tank with a pH of 5.5 – 6.5, gH of 1 – 5, and temperature of 27 – 29°C.  They prefer very dim lighting, so keep the tank out of direct sunlight and include floating plants for top cover and dense plantation around the sides.  As the parents will eat the eggs, include some sort of mesh or netting at the bottom of the tank so the eggs may fall through but the parents cannot reach them.  Remove the parents after spawning.  Soft filtration is also required for the set up.

The eggs will hatch in just over 24 hours, and the fry will be swimming around 3-4 days later.  Feed the fry on infusoria for the first few days and then move onto microworm or baby brine.  Both eggs and fry are extremely sensitive to light, so keep the tank in as much darkness as possible.

Hemigrammus cupreus may be spawned in groups (half a dozen of each sex) or in pairs.

Comments: The tank set up can be expensive and time consuming.  It requires a 70L tank that includes river sand as substrate and the addition of driftwood branches and roots.  Dried leaves left for a few weeks each time will ‘stain’ the water and mimic the natural environment of Hemigrammus cupreus.

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Recommended Compatible Species: They should live happily with other Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They also should be good tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, CorydorasCatfish  (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami(such as the Blue Gouramiand Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio)  and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.

Family: Characidae

Distribution: Thayeria obliqua, sometimes called the Penguinfish, is a pelagic freshwater species found in the middle Tocantins, Guapore and middle Amazon basins, in South America.  It is mostly distributed in grassy brooks and creeks, particularly those with plenty of algae and vegetation.

PH: 6.0 – 7.5

Temperature: 20°C – 28C (68 – 82F)

Hardness: 2 – 15 dH

Description: Thayeria obliqua can reach a maximum length of 8 cm in an aquarium.   It has an elongated body shape and a brown to golden colouration.  There is a black stripe that goes from behind the dorsal fin to the lower flank of its tail; its other fins are transparent.  It also has an impressive golden stripe that runs from the gills to the base of its tail.  It usually swims in a tail-down position. 

Diet: The Penguinfish will eat most frozen, live and frozen foods in an aquarium environment.  It can probably be given small, regular meals of bloodworm, Artemia, Daphnia, brine shrimp and flake.

Breeding: Thayeria obliqua breeds in a similar fashion to Thayeria boehlkea.  You should probably lower the water level when attempt to spawn this species, perhaps to a level of 15 – 20 cm.  The brown eggs will hatch within one day; the fry can be raised upon nauplii, powered foods and brine shrimp.

Comments: A small group of Thayeria obliqua can be housed in a 30 gallon tank.  This species will need plenty of hiding spots, so fill your tank with plants, roots, rocks, stones and branches.  You should also give Thayeria obliqua plenty of swimming space for.  The Penguinfish will require heavily oxygenated water to be at its best, and it is recommended you conduct frequent water changes.  This fish is recommended to beginners.

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Recommended Compatible Species: This peaceful schooling fish is suited to a community tank, although you must keep it in groups of around 6 – 10.  They will live happily with other Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetraand Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, CorydorasCatfish  (particularly Corydoras Sterbaiand Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppyand Platyand most Gourami(such as the Blue Gourami and Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also can live happily with most Danio(particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio)  and also many Killifish make great tank mates.

Family: Characidae

Distribution: The Red Base Tetra can be found in Guyana, Brazil and Colombia, South America.  They prefer the moderately-moving water off the main waterways.

PH: 6.5 – 7.0 pH

Temperature: 24 – 28°C (75 – 82°F)

Hardness: 5 – 8 dH

Description: Hemigrammus stictus has a vibrant red spot where the caudal fin meets the body.  The body base colour is silver or gold, and is iridescent.  They also sport a black spot just behind the gills.  The fins are mostly transparent, with a slightly dark shading to them.  They will reach a length of 6cm.

The females can be distinguished as they are more rotund and often larger.

The Red Base Tetra is peaceful and will thrive in a shoal.  They make a good addition to any community aquarium.

Diet: Once Hemigrammus stictus has settled down in its new aquarium it will be a remarkably easy fish to feed.  They prefer flakes or pellets as the staple, with occasional treats of brine shrimp and blood worms.

Breeding: Hemigrammus stictus can be difficult to breed, although it is possible.  They require acidic, well-filtered water in a tank with some plantation (not too dense).  The parents need to be removed after they have spawned.

The eggs will hatch within 24 hours and the fry will be free swimming immediately.  Feed them with rotifer and Infusoria initially, and after about 5 days with baby brine shrimp.

Comments: The Red Base Tetra requires a well-planted aquarium with lots of hiding places made with rocks, wood or PVC pipes.  Dark colours will really make the colours of this species pop.  Use subdued or dimmed lighting.

Due to the difficulty with breeding and their sensitivity of nitrate, Hemigrammus stictus is not recommended for beginners.

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Recommended Compatible Species: They should live happily with other Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They also should be good tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, CorydorasCatfish  (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami(such as the Blue Gouramiand Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio)  and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.

Family: Characidae

Distribution: Hemigrammus elegans is found in multiple South American countries; specifically, Venezuela, Brazil, and Peru.  It prefers slow moving streams with a bottom of mud and leaf litter.  The Amazon and Tapajós River basins, Apure and Aguaro River basins, and Madre de Dios are bodies of water that Hemigrammus elegans prefers.  Deeper waters house larger shoals.

PH: The exact pH levels for Hemigrammus elegans are unknown, so it is recommended that a general Hemigrammus pH level between 5.5 – 7 is used.

Temperature: 23 – 27°C (73 – 81°F)

Hardness: 8 gdH

Description: Hemigrammus elegans is a clear, glass-like bodied fish that is reflective in sunlight.  Its fins are transparent often with black edging.  The iridescent stripe that sits longitudinally from the base of the tail to the base of the head makes this species extremely eye-catching in community tanks.

It will grow to a maximum of 4cm in aquariums, and is a slow swimmer.  It is peaceful and sociable, and occupies the middle levels on any tank.

Diet: Hemigrammus elegans is an omnivore and will eat most foods.

Breeding: There is no information available regarding the breeding of Hemigrammus elegans, therefore it is unknown how difficult breeding is or the best methods.

Comments: Despite Hemigrammus elegans being a little more common in captivity, it is still rare when compared to others.  Because of this, there is little available information regarding specifics; thus general information concerning the Hemigrammus species has been included.

It may be worthwhile including leaf litter and floating plants to reduce light levels, in order to imitate their natural environment.

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Recommended Compatible Species: House your Hemigrammus elegans with similar or smaller sized fish that are non-aggressive.  Do not place it in a habitat with larger fish.  They should live happily with other Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They also should be good tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, CorydorasCatfish  (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami(such as the Blue Gouramiand Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio)  and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.

Family: Characidae

Distribution: Hemigrammus aereus is endemic to small creeks, streams and brooks of Guyana, South America.

PH: 6.3 – 7.1 pH

Temperature: 23 – 26 °C (73 – 79°F)

Hardness: 3 – 14 dH

Description: This peaceful fish will grow to a maximum length of 2-3.5cm in captivity.  The males of this species tend to be smaller than their female counterparts.

This species is somewhat uncommon in the hobby and due to the subsequent lack of information it is unknown what colouration they display.

Diet: Hemigrammus aereus are omnivores and will accept anything.  Use quality flake for their staple with occasional live food as a treat.

Breeding: Breeders may experience some difficulty when attempting to get their Hemigrammus aereus to spawn.  Set up a separate breeding tank with dense vegetation and soft lighting.  They require a higher temperature when spawning, as well as softer water (use peat filtration).

The parents will eat the eggs and should be removed immediately after spawning. The eggs will hatch within 24 hours and after a couple of days the fry will be swimming about.  Feed the fry on baby brine shrimp or crushed flake food.

Comments: Perhaps due to the difficulty of breeding, there is little information available on Hemigrammus aereus.  Therefore, general information pertaining to the Hemigrammus species has been included.

They can be kept in small (38L) tanks or in a larger community tank.  They require plenty of space to swim about in, as well as dense plantation along the edges.  They also require light diffusion, so include some floating plants.

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Recommended Compatible Species: They should live happily with other Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They also should be good tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, Corydoras Catfish  (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami (such as the Blue Gouramiand Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio)  and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.

Family: Crenuchidae

Distribution: Poecilocharax weitzmani, known also as Black Morpho Tetra, is a benthopelagic, Central American species distributed in the upper Negro, upper Solimoes, and the upper Orincoco River basins.  

PH: 5 – 6.5

Temperature: 24°C – 28°C (75 – 82F)

Hardness: 3 – 6 dH

Description: Poecilocharax weitzmani can reach up to 4 cm in length; females are slightly smaller, have a plumper belly and are less colourful.  It has a small, slender body with a black lateral line that extends from the gills to the caudal fin.  The remainder of the body is a pale yellow-brown, somewhat iridescent colouration.  Poecilocharax weitzmani has a life expectancy of 3 – 5 years.

Diet: The Black Morpho Tetra is mostly a carnivore, but can be fed a varied diet of flake, live-food and freeze-dried food.  It has a particular affinity for brine shrimp and daphnia. 

Breeding: Breeding Poecilocharax weitzmani is reportedly a difficult task in an aquarium environment.  As such, there is little information available on breeding this species.

Comments: This shoaling species will require at least a 15 gallon tank.  You should provide plenty of plants – floating plants as well as Javafern and Javamoss are recommended – and driftwood.  Poecilocharax weitzmani must be kept in acidic water conditions and will thrive in a black water environment.  This species is difficult to breed and is therefore recommended only to experienced hobbyists.

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Recommended Compatible Species: The Black Morpho Tetra will live happily with most Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, CorydorasCatfish  (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami(such as the Blue Gourami and Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also can live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio)  and also many Killifish make great tank mates.

Family: Characidae

Distribution: The Orinoco River basin, South America, is the home of Hemigrammus micropterus.

PH: 6.0 – 7.5 pH

Temperature: 22 – 28°C (72 – 82°F)

Hardness: 2-15 gdH

Description: A maximum length of 4cm is all Hemigrammus micropterus will reach in captivity.  The Hemigrammus species is normally sociable, peaceful and will be an ideal addition to any community tank consisting of non-aggressive species.  They will thrive in shoals of at least 6-8.

Hemigrammus micropterus are fairly uncommon in the hobby and therefore information such social habits, sexual dimorphia, and appearance is unavailable.

Diet: The Hemigrammus species usually thrive on an omnivorous diet consisting of flakes and live foods.  Hemigrammus micropterus have small mouths, thus the food needs to be chopped into pieces that they may consume.

Breeding: Due to their uncommonness within the hobby, there is limited information available regarding breeding Hemigrammus micropterus; therefore, the general method accepted for the Hemigrammus species has been included.

A pair of Hemigrammus micropterus of at least one year of age should be separated (from both the shoal and from one another) and conditioned on insect larvae.  Set up a breeding tank that has dense plantation, no artificial light, peat-filtered water and a slightly higher temperature.  If the pair do not spawn within three days of being introduced into the breeding tank, repeat the process.  If it still fails, try swapping one of the partners.

Once the parents-to-be have spawned, remove them from the tank as they are carnivorous and will consume the eggs.  Once the fry have hatched, they can be fed on small particles of foods such as Infusoria, baby Brine Shrimp, micro-organisms, and flake foods, amongst others.

Breeding results will generally be quite high, if their natural pattern is anything to go by: in the wild, they can double their original population in a little over a year.

Comments: A shoal of Hemigrammus micropterus can be kept by themselves in a 40L tank.  However, if you’re aiming for a community tank, you will need at least double the size.  Dense plantation along the sides and back is required, as well as a large open space in the centre for swimming space.  If wanting to show off the colouration to its finest, use a dark substrate.  Top floating plants should also be included in order to diffuse the light.

The Hemigrammus species is a fairly hardy one, and thus is suitable for an aquarist of any experience level.

As Hemigrammus micropterus is fairly uncommon within the hobby, general information pertaining to the Hemigrammus species has been included.

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Recommended Compatible Species: They should live happily with other Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They also should be good tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, CorydorasCatfish  (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami(such as the Blue Gouramiand Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio)  and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.

Family: Characidae

Distribution: The South American basins of the upper Solimões, Approuague and Mana Rivers.  It prefers bodies of water with slow currents, as well as small creeks with a sandy substrate and clear water.  It can be found in the section of rivers before waterfalls.

PH: 4.5 – 5.5 pH

Temperature: 24 – 28°C (75 – 82°F)

Hardness: 0 – 4 dH

Description: A beautifully coloured fish, the body of Hyphessobrycon copelandi varies (depending on lighting and surrounding) from a light to a deep pink.  There is a vertically-stretched black spot sitting just behind its gills.  The two distinguishing characteristics of Hyphessobrycon copelandi are its fins and a grey stripe.  The stripe begins behind the head of the fish on the upper portion of the body and extends down to the tail.  It expands around the area of the dorsal fin.  The frontal edge of the pelvic fins is a bright white colour, whilst the dorsal fin has a white tip and also a thick white line near the base (can be faint or bold).

It will reach a maximum length of 3.5cm in captivity and is naturally sociable.  It is a peaceful fish suitable for community tanks.

Diet: This species prefers a quite varied diet – if they are fed the same thing every day they get bored and will start to nibble on their tank mates.  They will accept dry food but they also need an assortment of live foods (try blood worms, white worms, and insect larvae, amongst other things).

Breeding: There are no reports of successful breeding in captivity for Hyphessobrycon copelandi.  If really wanting to attempt, follow a general Hyphessobrycon breeding methodology.

You should start by separating a year old male and female into two conditioning tanks.  For three weeks, feed them on insect larvae and Drosophila; then introduce them into the breeding tank.  A 38L tank is more than sufficient for Hyphessobrycon copelandi.  Ensure the water has a temperature of 24 – 26°C (75 – 79°F), a pH of 5.5 – 6.5, and dH of 2 – 4.  This species requires good, clean water and therefore weekly partial water changes are recommended.  They should be kept in as much dark as possible.  The tank requires only fine-leaved plants and soft filtration (a sponge or foam); do not use substrate.

Once introduced, the pair should spawn three days later.  If they do not, repeat the conditioning process.  They spawn into the leaves of the plants and should be removed immediately after otherwise they will consume the eggs.  The eggs will hatch about two days later, with free-swimming fry appearing 2-3 days later.  Feed your fry a diet of baby Brine Shrimp and micro-organisms for the first ten days, and crushed flakes after that.

Comments: Like the Hemigrammus species, use a tank of at least 40L that includes dense plantation around the sides and back, a large free-swimming area in the centre, dimmed light (floating plants) and a dark substrate.  The substrate will help to being out the fish’s natural colours.  The tank should also have a slow to moderate current.

The difficulty encountered when breeding would not make this an ideal fish for a beginner looking to start breeding.  The variety of food may also prove expensive for those looking at a fish for a side hobby.

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Recommended Compatible Species: They should live happily with other Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They also should be good tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, Corydoras Catfish  (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami (such as the Blue Gourami and Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danio and Pearl Danio)  and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.

Information will be coming soon