The LemonTetra , ($3 Each) Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnisis
an attractive and lively fish reaching a maximum length of about one
and a half inches (four cm). This South American Tetra is found in the
Tapajós River in Brazil in large numbers.
Conditions
The LemonTetra is a tropical fish. In its natural habitat the water
temperature stays between 23̊ and 28° C (74° F - 82° F). I suggest a
temperature of about 24̊ C or 75̊ F for a community tank including Lemon Tetras. The LemonTetra is more flexible in its pH and hardness requirements than most tetras, being able
to survive a pH range of from 5.5 to 8, and the LemonTetra can take
quite hard water. I suggest neutral pH (7) for a mixed community.
Companions
Lemon
Tetras are very much a schooling fish and I suggest that at least five
and preferably more be kept together. A large group of Lemon Tetras are
less likely to shyly hide and more likely to Boldly Swim
in the open near the surface of the tank, creating a stunning display.
The LemonTetra will certainly be less stressed in a large school and
more likely to stay healthy.
Common companions for Lemon
Tetras include Neon Tetras, Black Widow Tetras, ,
Emperor Tetras, Head and Tail Light Tetras, Glass Bloodfin Tetras, Neon Tetras, Peppered
Catfish, White Cloud Mountain Minnows and Zebra Danios. Note that not all these common companions are compatible with each other.
Fish
I would not suggest as companions for Lemon
Tetras are the larger and
more aggressive fish and the ones that need different conditions. These
includes many of the Cichlids as well as such fish as the Whale Shark
which requires completely different conditions as well as being on the
large size for a community tank of small fish.
Breeding
In
the wild the LemonTetra breeds with huge numbers of fish at a time.
During and after spawning, many fish, including the Lemon Tetras
themselves eat some of the eggs. In captivity the LemonTetra is
considered by many people to be a moderately difficult fish to breed.
The LemonTetra is an egg scatterer like most of the tetras and tends to
release its eggs over fine leaved plants. Like most tetras, the LemonTetra does not look after its babies and will eat both the eggs and the
young fish. A group of Lemon Tetras is more likely to breed
successfully than a single pair, but if you want to save most of the
fry you need to remove the parents.
The fry are difficult to
raise for the first few days, but if you can get them past the first
critical stage they start getting the hardiness that characterizes the
adults.
To feed the babies, you can start with a very fine food
like sera micron or hard boiled egg yolk suspended in the water. They
can progress to slightly bigger fry food like Sera Micropan or HBH Fry
Bites quite soon. They benefit from suitable sized live food at all ages.
Steve Challis
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Lemon Tetra Fact Sheet
