Tetra – Serpae

Serpae tetras (Hyphessobrycon eques) are popular flame-colored fish that move in bright red schools through your aquarium. They’re quite popular in a community aquarium because of their beauty and ease of care, though they can become mildly aggressive when among slow-moving species.

Serpae tetras are native to the Amazon River drainage of northern Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil, specifically the Paraguay and Guaporé River basins.

Behaviour Add a school of six or more serpae tetras to  This tetra is generally peaceful but they are sometimes prone to fin nipping on some of their tank mates. Keeping them in a school of 6 or more may help alleviate this problem. Serpaes can also be a little skittish at times so providing hiding places may make them feel more secure if they know they have cover to hide from perceived predators.

Tank Conditions Your aquarium should have plants, rocks, and caves to keep them interested, and then you can enjoy watching as they explore.  For best results, try to create an Amazon habitat. The water flow in the aquarium should be minimal, and you should include bogwood, driftwood, and leaf litter in your tank décor scheme. Dense planting around the perimeter of the tank is good, and a dark-colored, sandy substrate will help to make the fishes’ colors really pop.

You can use peat or blackwater extract to create the soft, acidic water that the fish prefer, and a few handfuls of dried leaves scattered across the bottom of the tank can help to recreate the river environment that the fish are used to.

Compatibility The serpae tetra is generally considered a peaceful fish and should always be kept in schools of a half dozen or more. However, in smaller groups, they have been known to nip fins, an aggression that is most often directed at its own kind, especially during feeding times.  Ideal tankmates include other active fish of similar or larger size, such as barbs, danios, and larger tetras. Bottom-dwelling catfish and loaches are also suitable tankmates. Avoid keeping this species with fish that have long, flowing fins or that are slow-moving, such as angelfish or bettas. Also, avoid keeping them with smaller species of fish as they may get harassed. Serpae tetras are most likely to show aggression at feeding time; place food at several locations or use multiple feeding rings to help reduce nipping at feeding time.

Feeding In their natural environment, serpae tetras eat small live foods such as insects, invertebrates, and worms. In the aquarium, they will accept virtually any food quite readily, including flake, pellet, freeze-dried, and frozen foods. To keep them in prime condition and bring out their colors, feed a good variety of food types, including live foods when available.

Care Most tetra varieties are renowned for being easy to keep, and the Serpae tetra is no exception to that.