Loreto Tetra Care Guide
Hyphessobrycon peruvianus (Loreto Tetra) is a small peaceful characin from the upper Amazon basin of Peru, best kept in soft, slightly acidic water in groups.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Hyphessobrycon peruvianus, known as the Loreto or Peruvian Tetra, is a small characin of the family Characidae. It has a silvery body with a horizontal black stripe and is a peaceful resident of the well-researched community aquarium.
Taxonomy
- Family: Characidae
- Genus: Hyphessobrycon
- Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon peruvianus
Habitat
The species is native to the upper Amazon basin in Peru, recorded from the rios Amazonas-Solimoes, Maranon, Napo, Itaya, Tigre, Corrientes and Ucayali. It is a freshwater fish of tropical waters.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
- Temperature: 23-27 °C (73-81 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7.0
- GH: 1-8 °dGH
- School size: 8 or more individuals
- Adult size: up to about 4 cm SL
- Lifespan: about 3-5 years
Seriously Fish recommends a group of at least 8-10 specimens, with other schooling fishes added to provide security.
Diet
It is an opportunistic omnivore that likely consumes aquatic invertebrates in nature. In the aquarium it accepts small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and Artemia alongside good-quality dried flakes and granules.
Compatibility
Generally peaceful, it suits community tanks with similarly sized, calm species such as cardinal tetras, corydoras and Apistogramma. Aggressive cichlids and large predators should be avoided.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in 2014.
Loreto Tetra Breeding Guide
Overview
The Loreto Tetra, Hyphessobrycon peruvianus, is a small characin known only from the upper Amazon basin in Peru, including the ríos Amazonas-Solimões, Marañón, Napo, Itaya, Tigre, Corrientes and Ucayali. It reaches a maximum standard length of 30-40 mm. It is an egg-scatterer that exhibits no parental care.
Sexing
Males display more intense coloration when in good condition. Females tend to grow slightly larger and appear rounder, particularly when gravid.
Breeding Setup
As an egg-scatterer with no parental care, this tetra is bred in a separate, dimly lit tank using fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, or a mesh base, so that scattered eggs fall out of reach of the adults. Soft, acidic water consistent with its maintenance range (22-27 °C, pH 5.0-7.0, hardness 36-179 ppm) is appropriate.
Egg & Fry Care
Because the species offers no parental care, the adults should be removed after spawning to prevent egg predation. Fry of small Hyphessobrycon are reared on infusoria-grade foods before progressing to brine shrimp nauplii and microworm as they grow. Species-specific hatch times were not recorded in the consulted sources.