Photo taken at Wharf Aquatics
© Sean Evans
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| Common name: | Buenos Aires tetra |
| Scientific name: | Hemigrammus anisitsi |
| Synonyms: | Hemigrammus caudovittatus (junior synonym) |
| Size: | 3" (7.5cm), but larger sometimes reported. |
| Origin: | South America: Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. |
| Tank setup: | At least 3ft/92cm, with plenty of open swimming space. If live plants are used, they should be tougher varieties, as this
species will often eat softer-leaved plants. |
| Compatibility: | Normally peaceful, but may show some aggression towards smaller or more timid species. This is
less likely to occur when kept in a shoal of their own kind. |
| Temperature: | 18-28oC (64-82oF) |
| Water chemistry: | Not critical, thrives in a range of conditions as long as extremes are avoided. |
| Feeding: | Omnivorous: dry foods such as flake and granular foods supplemented with live/frozen foods, and a vegetable component. |
| Sexing: | Males slimmer, often with more vivid colours. |
| Breeding: | A fairly easy fish to breed. Use a temperature in the middle to upper end of
the range quoted above. Spawning takes place over plants and the eggs hatch in about a day. |
| Comments: |
This is a hardy fish which will tolerate a range of conditions and is hence often recommended for beginners.
A tank partially planted with hardy plants is recommended, as they may nibble more delicate plants. This is an
active shoaling species which grows a little larger than many tetras, and therefore requires a little more swimming
space. A colour variant exists in which the caudal fin is lemon-yellow.
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