Socolof's Tetra Breeding Guide

How to breed Socolof's Tetra (Hyphessobrycon socolofi), a rio Negro egg-scatterer with no parental care.

Overview

Socolof's Tetra, Hyphessobrycon socolofi, is a characin known only from the rio Negro basin in Amazonas state, Brazil, plus the rio Nhamundá, occurring in affluents such as the rios Branco, Padauari and Marauiá. It reaches a maximum standard length of 56 mm and is an egg-scatterer exhibiting no parental care.

Sexing

Males grow noticeably larger and are more intensely coloured than females. In adult males the dorsal, pelvic and anal fins are highly extended, while adult females tend to be rounder, especially when gravid.

Breeding Setup

As a non-guarding egg-scatterer, this tetra is spawned in a separate dimly lit tank with fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, or a mesh base, allowing eggs to drop away from the adults. Soft, acidic water within its maintenance range (22-28 °C, pH 4.0-7.5, hardness 18-179 ppm) suits spawning.

Egg & Fry Care

The adults should be removed after spawning, since no parental care is given. In established tanks, leaf litter can provide a valuable secondary food source for fry. Fry are reared on infusoria-grade foods, progressing to brine shrimp nauplii and microworm. Species-specific hatch times were not recorded in the consulted sources.