FishLvr.com

By George Chao

Are you looking to create a tropical aquarium? Do you want to add more fish to your existing aquarium? If so, consider getting the serpae tetra fish. Serpae tetras are community fish that will mix well with other fish. Whether you are a seasoned aquarist or someone who is only starting to discover the wonderful world of aquarying, the serpae tetra fish is a good choice for your aquarium. Serpae tetras are community fish that are easy to keep. They are hardy fish and mix well with small fish in an aquarium.

Originally from South America, Peru and the Amazon River basin, the serpae tetra fish is sleek, tall and compressed. A serpae tetra fish typically grows up to 2.2 inches long. The female serpae tetra fish is generally a bit more rounded than its male counterpart. The color of the serpae tetra fish’s body can range from bright red to reddish brown. The serpae tetra fish’s ventral and anal fins are red. Its dorsal fin, however, is black with white fringing. A black spot can be found behind its gill cover. As the serpae tetra fish ages, this black spot slowly become smaller.

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By Gary Bolton

Family: Characidae

Species: Hyphessobrycon serpae

Size: 5cm (2 inch)

Diet: Omnivorous

Tank levels: Middle

Habitat: Guyana and the Amazon basin

Remarks: This species is part of a group of similarly coloured fishes (Hyphessobrycon callistus, H. monor, H. haraldschultzei, and H. hasemani). Confusion surrounds the existence, shape, and colour of individual shoulder spots.

Comments: The overall colour is blood-red, fading to a paler shade below. A dark, comma-shaped spot, just visible on this female, adorns the shoulder. Females are generally paler and plumper than males. Caudal, pelvic, adipose, and anal fins are red, the last having a black edge. A good proportion of the dorsal fin is black. This is a good choice of fish as a middle swimmer.

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