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Related FAQs: Example genera: Astyanax ( Blind Cave, Mexican Tetras), Byconamericus, Bryconops, Cheirodon, Gymnocorymbus (Black Skirt/Widow Tetras), Hasemania (Silver Tip Tetras), Hemibrycon, Hemigrammus (Head & Tail Lights, Rummynose Tetras,), Hyphessobrycon (Black Neons, Bleeding Heart Tetras, Flame Tetras, Lemon Tetras, Serpae Tetras,),Inpaichthys (Emperor Tetras), Megalamphodus (Black Phantom Tetras), Moenkhausia (Red Eye (Moenkhausia) Tetras), Oligosarcus, Paracheirodon, Rachoviscus, Tetragonopterus, Tyttobrycon. ) by Bob Fenner & FAQs on: Tetragonopterines, & Alphabetical By Species/Common Names: Black Neons, Black Phantom Tetras, Black Skirt/Widow Tetras, Bleeding Heart Tetras, Blind Cave/Mexican Tetras, Buenos Aires Tetras, Emperor Tetras, Flame Tetras, Head & Tail Lights, Lemon Tetras, Neon Tetras, Red Eye (Moenkhausia) Tetras, Rosy Tetras, Rummynose Tetras, Serpae Tetras, Silver Tip Tetras,

Related Articles: Characiform Fishes, Characid Fishes,

Mostly Small Tetras, subfamily Tetragonopterinae

Bob Fenner

Bleeding Heart Tetras

Small characin fishes of southern U.S., Central and South America. Example genera: Astyanax, Byconamericus, Bryconops, Cheirodon, Gymnocorymbus, Hemibrycon, Hemigrammus, Hyphessobrycon, Inpaichthys, Megalamphodus, Moenkhausia, Oligosarcus, Paracheirodon, Rachoviscus, Tetragonopterus, Tyttobrycon.

Genus Astyanax:

Astyanax jordani (Hubbs & Innes 1936), the Blind Cave Tetra. North America; Mexican endemic. Sometimes identified in pet-fish literature as Anoptichthys sp. An eyeless form evolved from A. mexicanus. Cond.s: pH 6-7.8, dH to 30, temp. 20-25 C. A pugnacious species that must be placed very carefully. Best kept in a "species" exhibit tank by itself in a school.

Sidebar: The blind cave tetra, Astyanax mexicanus (Excerpted from: Extreme Characins Part 1: Hatchets, pikes, and other lethal weapons by Neale Monks)

Blind cave tetras are a peculiar variety of Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, that inhabit limestone caves. Living in complete and perpetual darkness, they have no eyes and no skin pigmentation, and for food they depend very largely on bat droppings, which contain large amounts of undigested insect remains. Because they cannot see their food, as would Mexican tetras living above ground, they instead use a heightened sensitivity to sounds and vibrations. When something hits the surface of the water, they will swim towards it. They can also use their sensitivity to vibrations as a sort of pathfinding sense, allowing them to locate other individuals in the group as well as the physical boundaries of their environment.

Cave tetras are a bit pushy and can be nippy, so while they can be kept in an ordinary community tanks with robust species, they are most rewarding kept their own aquarium. Black sand and upright pieces of slate will work very nicely, and for illumination consider a moonlight or Grolux tube instead of normal aquarium lights. Catfish such as plecs and Synodontis will work perfectly in such an aquarium and make excellent companions for these fish. Hard, alkaline water is preferred but these fish are very adaptable, and they will eat practically anything, including flakes, pellets, bloodworms, and most small live foods. Cave tetras get to about 8-10 cm/3-3.5" in length and are relatively easy to breed if the water is cooled down to about 18˰C (64˰F). Surprisingly perhaps, the fry have normal eyes, and only lose them as they mature.

Genus Gymnocorymbus:

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi (Boulenger 1895), the Blackskirt Tetra. To 6 cm. South America; Paraguay and Guapore Basins. pH 6-8, dH 5-19, temp. 20-26 C. A few "sports" of this species have been produced for the aquarium interest. Ones with no barring, some with no color whatsoever, longfinned varieties...

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Genus Hasemania:

Hasemania nana, the Silvertip Tetra. To 6 cm. South America; Paraguay and Guapore Basins. pH 6-8, dH 5-19, temp. 20-26 C. A few "sports" of this species have been produced for the aquarium interest. Ones with no barring, some with no color whatsoever, longfinned varieties...

Genus Hemigrammus:

Hemigrammus bleheri Gery & Mahnert 1986, one of the two Rummynose Tetras of this genus. South America: Rio Negro basin, Brazil; Río Meta basin, Colombia. 3.6 cm. standard length. pH 5-6, dH 5-12, temp. 23-26 C. Show best being kept within the stated water quality conditions in a grouping of several to many individuals. Aquarium pix.

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Genus Hyphessobrycon:

Hyphessobrycon anisitsi Eigenmann 1907, the Buenos Aires Tetra. South America; Rio Parana basin in Brazil and Paraguay; Rio Uruguay basin in Brazil. To 5.7 cm. total length. Amongst the hardiest of aquarium fishes. In the wild feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plants. Aquarium photos of cultured wild and albino sports.

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Hyphessobrycon bentosi, Durbin, 1908. Bentos, White Tip, Ornate Tetra. South America. Interzoo 2010, and Rob Bray's "House of Fins", CT below
http://www.fishbase.us/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=12378

Verticals (Full/Cover Page Sizes Available)
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Hyphessobrycon eques (Steindachner 1882) Serpae Tetra. Nippy, but beautiful. TiffB pic at Aq. Exp. 2014

 

Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma (Fowler 1943), the Bleeding Heart Tetra. South America; found in the upper Rio Solimoes of the Amazonas. To two and a half inches total length. Cond.s pH 5.6-7.2, dH to 12, temp. 23-28 C. In the wild feeds on insects, worms, plant material.

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Hyphessobrycon flammeus Myers 1924, the Flame Tetra. South America; found in the coastal regions of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To about an inch in length. Cond.s: pH 5.8-7.8, dH 5-25, temp. 22-28 C. Aquarium images.

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Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi Gery 1961, the Black Neon Tetra. South America: Paraguay River basin. To 3.2 cm. in length. Cond.s: pH 5.5-7.5, dH to 15, temp. 23-27 C. Aquarium image. http://fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=10654

Hyphessobrycon megalopterus (Eigenmann 1915), the Black Phantom Tetra. South America; Upper rio Paraguay basin in Brazil; Rio Guaporé/Mamore basin in Bolivia and Brazil. To 3.6 cm. in length. Cond.s: pH 6-7.5, dH to 18, temp. 22-28 C. Aquarium image.

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis Ahl 1937, the Lemon Tetra. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_tetra



From Neale: "This fish is some type of Hyphessobrycon, and one of the "rosy tetra" clade at that. Given its size and shape, I'd assume basic care much like the Serpae tetra, Hyphessobrycon eos, i.e., a schooling fish, and potentially a biter, so not to be trusted with slow-moving tankmates."

Genus Moenkhausia:

Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae Steindachner 1907, the Red Eye Tetra. South America; Brazil (in Paranaíba River basin) and Paraguay. To 7 cm standard length. pH 6-8, dH 5-19, temp. 22-26 C. Feeds on worms and crustaceans in the wild. Aquarium photo.

Genus Nematobrycon: Two species

Nematobrycon palmeri Eigenmann 1911, the Black Emperor Tetra. South America; the Rio Atrato Basin. To 4.2 cm standard length. pH 5-8, dH 5-19, temp. 23-27 C. Feeds on worms and crustaceans in the wild. Aquarium photo.

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Genus Paracheirodon:

Paracheirodon axelrodi (Schultz 1956), the Cardinal Tetra. To 2.5 cm (2 inches), pH 4-6, dH 5-12, temp. 23-27 C. South America; upper Rio Orinoco to upper Rio Negro. Aquarium photo. Best kept in schools of several individuals. Difficult but not impossible to breed in captivity, though most are still wild-collected.

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Paracheirodon innesi (Myers 1936), the Neon Tetra. To 2.2 cm , pH 5-7, dH 1-2, temp. 20-26 C. South America; dark and clear waters of the Solimoes. Aquarium photo. Best kept in schools of several individuals. Most now captive-produced for the aquarium trade.

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Genus Pristella:

Pristella maxillaris (Ulrey 1864), the X ray, Pristella Tetra. http://www.fishbase.us/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=10697


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