Calypso Tetra Breeding Guide

Breeding notes for the Calypso Tetra (Hyphessobrycon axelrodi), a Near Threatened Trinidad egg-scatterer bred by the genus method.

Overview

The Calypso Tetra, Hyphessobrycon axelrodi, is a small characin from Trinidad, where it inhabits clear to slightly turbid standing water at low elevations and along the edges of swamps. It reaches a maximum standard length of about 2.2 cm (aquarium specimens to about 4.0 cm total length). FishBase lists its preferred conditions as pH 5.5-6.0 and 22-23 °C, and assesses it as Near Threatened (NT).

Breeding Setup

Small Hyphessobrycon are spawned in a separate, dimly lit tank with fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, or a mesh base, so that scattered eggs fall away from the adults. Soft, acidic water consistent with the species' reported pH 5.5-6.0 and around 22-23 °C is appropriate.

Egg & Fry Care

As an egg-scatterer with no parental care, the adults should be removed after spawning to protect the eggs. Small-tetra fry are reared on infusoria-grade foods before brine shrimp nauplii and microworm. Species-specific hatch times were not recorded in the consulted sources.