Featherfin Tetra
Hemigrammus unilineatus
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 87 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
Species profile
Emperor Tetra
Nematobrycon palmeri
Common names: Emperor Tetra
Recognized speciesTetras
Adult size
Up to 4.2 cm
Typical adult length 3.5–4.2 cm.
Up to 4.2 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A planted aquarium with calm tankmates
- A keeper who enjoys watching male display behaviour
- A soft-water community with small catfish
Think carefully if
- Your fish are nippy, because males have long fins
- The tank is short or lacks cover
- You want a tight-schooling fish
An elegant Colombian tetra with a purple sheen and extended fins on males. It is calmer than many tetras, and it stands out in a planted aquarium.
Appearance and Identification
A dark lateral stripe on a golden to purple-sheened body. Males have extended fins, including a central tail extension that forms a three-pointed tail.
The three-pointed tail on males and the blue or green iris are the most useful features. A similar species, the Rainbow Tetra, is less commonly sold.
Males are larger and more colourful with extended fins. Males have a blue iris, while females have a green iris.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 320–400 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 75–125 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 80 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 90 cm
- Minimum group size
- 6
- Recommended group size
- 10
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low to moderate
- Planting preference
- Heavily planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Provide dense planting, dark substrate, and soft lighting, with enough open water to show off male displays.
Behaviour and Tankmates
A peaceful fish that holds loose groups rather than a tight school. Males display and spar briefly.
Keep at least 6, and preferably 10 or more.
Males hold small display areas and spar with each other, usually without serious harm.
Suitable with other small peaceful fish, small catfish, and dwarf cichlids. Avoid fin nippers such as Serpae Tetras and Tiger Barbs.
Water Parameters
Soft to moderately hard water suits this fish. Breeding works best in soft, acidic water.
Parameter caveat
Most fish sold are farm-bred and more adaptable than wild stock. Acclimate slowly and use the seller's water as a starting point rather than chasing an exact number.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Insectivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Once or twice daily
- Preferred foods
- Fine micro granules or crushed flakeUse a particle size the fish can swallow whole, and feed only what is eaten within a couple of minutes.
- Frozen or live daphnia and cyclopsSmall crustaceans add variety and help bring adults into breeding condition.
- Frozen or newly hatched brine shrimpA good small meat food a few times a week rather than the only food.
An omnivore that eats small invertebrates and accepts prepared foods.
Regular frozen or live foods help males develop their best colour and fins.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Scatterer
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Breeding temperature
- 25 °C
- Breeding pH
- 6.5
- Brood or egg count
- Typically dozens of small eggs
- Incubation
- 1 days
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- Infusoria or parameciumNeeded for the first days after fry become free-swimming, because the fry are very small.
- Fine powdered fry foodUse sparingly as a supplement, and siphon out anything left uneaten.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce once the fry are large enough to swallow it, usually after several days.
- MicrowormsA useful next step for fry that are still too small for brine shrimp.
Use a separate, dim tank with soft, acidic water and fine-leaved plants or mesh. Spawn in pairs or a group, then remove adults once eggs appear. Eggs hatch in 24 to 36 hours, and fry swim freely 4 to 5 days later.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Colombia, South America
- Natural habitat
- Blackwater, Freshwater Stream, Slow River
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Nematobrycon
- Family
- Characidae
- Species group
- Fish, Tetras
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Fire Green Tetra
Aphyocharax rathbuni
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 4.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C
Flag Tetra
Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 3.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 72 litres
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C
Flame Tetra
Hyphessobrycon flammeus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 2.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C