Hyphessobrycon flammeus – Flame Tetra

Hyphessobrycon flammeus – Flame Tetra

Meyers first described the Flame Tetra in 1924 and gave it the scientific name Hyphessobrycon flammeus. Hyphessobrycon can be broken down into two parts: brykon means something like biter or gnashing of teeth in Greek. Together with Hyphesso is means something like little biter. Flammeus means flaming as a reference to the red color on the body.

Hyphessobrycon flammeus can reach a length of about 4 centimeters. The back of this fish is slightly gray-blue, the sides of its body are shiny yellow, changing to red towards the back. The belly is whitish and behind the gill covers there are two dark vertical shoulder spots. The Flame Tetra is club-shaped and laterally flattened, and the anal fin is longer than the dorsal fin.

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, South America.

The Aquarium

This species needs an aquarium with enough space for swimming. In addition, it is advisable to provide plenty of shelter in the form of dense border planting. A dark base will make the colors stand out better. Dimmed lighting, which can be done with floating plants such as Pistia stratiotes or Limnobium laevigatum, also ensures that the fish show more beautiful colors.

Hyphessobrycon flammeus does not like a lot of current in the water. Therefore, ensure there is little flow in the tank.

Water parameters

Temperature: 20 – 24 degrees Celsius
PH: 6 – 7,5
GH: 4 – 12

In nature, fish have to deal with fluctuating temperatures. Keeping fish at the minimum or maximum temperature for a long time is not always desirable and can shorten the average lifespan of the animals.

Diet

Hyphessobrycon flammeus are omnivores. You can feed them black mosquito larvae, cyclops, Daphnia and flakes. Feeding brine shrimp makes the red color more beautiful. Provide sufficient variety.

Character

The Flame Tetra is a real schooling fish and should definitely be kept with several of its own kind. If there are too few conspecifics, there is a chance that they will become aggressive. With enough others of its own kind, it is a quiet, peaceful fish. Therefore, keep them in a school of at least 6 to 8 specimens. Hyphessobrycon flammeus can eventually reach an age of 3-5 years. They mainly swim in the middle layers of water.

Breeding Hyphessobrycon flammeus – Flame Tetra

To ensure that as many young as possible survive during breeding, it is advisable to set up a small separate tank. To get the Hyphessobrycon flammeus in the best possible mood for spawning, the light should be dimmed as much as possible. The breeding tank should contain many fine-leaved plants or spawn mops. The fish can lay their eggs inside the spawn mop or fine leaves. The pH should be around 5.5-6 and the DH between 1 and 5. The temperature should be 26-28 degrees Celsius.

To get the females and males in good condition for spawning, you can first keep them separate. This can increase the number of eggs deposited.

After 24-36 hours the eggs will hatch and after 3 to 4 days the fry will be swimming freely. The fish eat the eggs and young, so it is advisable to remove the parents after spawning. The young only eat the smallest food. So feed them infusoria, newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii and fine dust food.

Also see the article Breeding Hyphessobrycon flammeus.

Video

Author

Coby – Rikpad

Copyright images

John de Lange