Garnet Tetra Care Guide
Hemigrammus pulcher, the garnet or pretty tetra, is an easygoing characin from the upper Amazon near Iquitos with a copper sheen and a dark caudal wedge.
Overview
Hemigrammus pulcher, the garnet or pretty tetra, is a stocky characin with a copper sheen and a dark wedge before the tail. It is peaceful and undemanding, and is now treated by FishBase and Wikipedia under the genus Holopristis.
Taxonomy
- Family: Characidae (FishBase and Wikipedia now place it as Holopristis pulchra, order Characiformes)
- Genus: Hemigrammus
- Scientific name: Hemigrammus pulcher
- Common synonyms: pretty tetra, black wedge tetra
Habitat
It is endemic to the upper Amazon near Iquitos in Peru, in slow-moving tributaries beneath forest canopy, and probably also occurs in Brazil and Colombia (Seriously Fish, Wikipedia, FishBase). Most aquarium specimens come from fish farms.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L (Seriously Fish suggests a 60 cm, ~70 L tank for a small shoal)
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (Seriously Fish and FishBase report 23-27 °C)
- pH: 5.5-7.5 (FishBase 5.0-6.0)
- GH: 2-12 °dGH (FishBase 5-12 dH)
- Maximum size: about 3.3-4.5 cm (FishBase, Seriously Fish)
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 4-6 years
Diet
It is omnivorous; in the wild it takes worms, small crustaceans and plants. In the aquarium it readily accepts dried flakes and granules plus small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp.
Compatibility
The garnet tetra is peaceful, lively but rather shy, and should be kept in groups of at least 6, preferably 10 or more. It should not be housed with much larger or boisterous fish. Suitable companions include Corydoras and dwarf cichlids such as Apistogramma; fin-nippers should be avoided.
Breeding
It is an egg-scatterer that spawns among plants. Seriously Fish notes eggs hatch in about 24-36 hours, with fry free-swimming 3-4 days later; parents should be separated to prevent predation.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2014).