Adonis Tetra (Lepidarchus adonis)
The Adonis Tetras is fairly uncommon in the hobby but highly sought after by hobbyists with planted or nano tanks because of their small adult size and unique patterning.
These Tetras are tiny but attractive and exciting fish; however, they can be somewhat troublesome due to their small size and quite specialised requirements and the fact that the males will compete with each other for their territories. These Tetras are peaceful with other species but do not make an ideal fish for the community aquarium.
Ideally, you should maintain Adonis Tetras alone or at most with similar-sized, non-aggressive fish such as other Tetras or smaller Catfish. These fish also make an ideal dither fish for Apistogrammas or other Dwarf Cichlids.
Since Adonis Tetras are schooling fish, keeping them in a group of 8 to 10 individuals is best. You'll be able to see your fish's interesting behaviours and even see a better, more natural-looking display as a result.
An aquarium with a sandy substrate and some driftwood branches and roots is ideal for Adonis Tetras. It would be helpful to add dried leaves to enhance the natural feel and provide additional cover for the fish as well. Dim lighting seems to be better for these Tetras. Microsorum, Taxiphyllum, and Cryptocoryne are some of the hardy aquatic plants that would be helpful to add, as well as some floating vegetation. Due to their sensitivity to fluctuating organic waste, these Tetras should never be introduced to an aquarium that is biologically immature.
Adonis Tetras are small and slender and have silvery translucent bodies
with tiny red spots on the front and larger red blotches on the back. All the fins appear transparent except for the base of the caudal fin, which displays a dark red bar and the anal fin, where you will see a deep red diagonal bar.
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lepidarchus adonis |
| Year Described | 1966 |
| Other Names | Adonis Characin, Spotted Tetra |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Characiformes |
| Family | Alestidae |
| Genus | Lepidarchus |
| Origins | Ghana, Sierra Leone |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 8+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 3 - 5 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 5.5 - 7.5 |
| GH | 4 - 10 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 71 - 79℉ 21.7 - 26.1℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Adonis Tetra will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.
Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.
It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.
This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.
Sexual Dimorphism
It is somewhat straightforward to differentiate between male and female Adonis Tetras. The females are usually fuller-bodied than males and have pointed anal fins. In contrast, the males are slimmer, and their anal fins are rounded.