Coffee Bean Tetra Breeding Guide

Breeding notes for the Coffee Bean Tetra (Hyphessobrycon takasei), a small Amapá characin bred by the genus egg-scattering method.

Overview

The Coffee Bean Tetra, Hyphessobrycon takasei, is a small characin from the Araguari and Oyapock River basins of northern South America, reaching a maximum standard length of about 3.0 cm. Like other Hyphessobrycon it is a small egg-scattering tetra.

Breeding Setup

Small Hyphessobrycon are spawned in a separate, dimly lit tank using fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, or a mesh base, so the scattered eggs fall away from the adults. Soft, slightly acidic water consistent with the species' nano blackwater preference is appropriate.

Egg & Fry Care

As an egg-scatterer with no parental care, the adults should be removed after spawning to protect the eggs. Fry of small tetras are reared first on infusoria-grade foods, then on brine shrimp nauplii and microworm. Species-specific egg counts and hatch times were not confirmed in the consulted sources.