Lemon Tetra Breeding Guide

Breeding Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis: sexing, egg-scattering free spawning over fine-leaved plants in dim soft water, and rearing fry.

Overview

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis is a small characin reaching about 5 cm, originating from the basin of the Rio Tapajos near Santarem, Brazil, where it lives in shallow, vegetated, slightly acidic and mineral-poor waters. It is an egg-scattering free spawner that shows no parental care. Well-conditioned fish spawn regularly, and fry may even appear naturally in a mature, well-planted aquarium.

Sexing

Males are less deep-bodied, slightly smaller, and more intensely coloured than females, the difference being most evident in the dorsal and anal fins. In particular, the black border on the male's anal fin is conspicuously wider than the fine black line of the female and, in breeding males, can cover up to a third of the anal fin.

Breeding Setup

Use a dedicated, very dimly lit tank. Cover the base with a mesh that lets eggs fall through while keeping adults away, or use plastic grass matting or glass marbles. Provide fine-leaved plants such as Taxiphyllum or spawning mops, and an air-powered sponge filter or air stone for oxygenation. Slightly acidic to neutral, soft water at the upper end of the temperature range suits spawning.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Conditioned fish scatter eggs freely among the fine-leaved medium. Because adults will consume the eggs, the protective base layer and prompt removal of the parents after spawning are important to protect the clutch.

Egg & Fry Care

A large female may produce as many as 300 eggs. Eggs take around 72 hours to hatch at 28 C, and the fry become free-swimming a further 24-48 hours later. Initial food should be Paramecium or a proprietary dry food of 5-50 micron grade, progressing to Artemia nauplii and microworm once the fry are large enough to take them.

Common Challenges

Egg predation by the adults is the main risk, so a base that hides the eggs and removal of the parents after spawning are key to a good yield.