Hummingbird Tetra (Trochilocharax ornatus)
The Hummingbird Tetra is uncommon in the hobby but highly sought after by hobbyists with planted or nano tanks because of their small adult size and unique colour.
Hummingbird Tetras are a 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 these fish alone or at most with similar-sized, non-aggressive fish such as Characids or smaller catfish. These fish also make an ideal dither fish for Apistogrammas or other Dwarf Cichlids.
It would be best to keep hummingbird Tetras in a group of 8 to 10 individuals as they are sociable fish in nature. This will help your fish feel more content, which will result in a far better, natural-looking display and bring out their interesting behaviours.
The ideal setup for Hummingbird Tetras would be a well-established aquarium comprising a sandy substrate and some driftwood branches and roots. The addition of dried leaves would further emphasise the natural feel and offer additional cover for the fish. Hummingbird Tetras seem to do better under fairly dim lighting. It would also be useful to add hardy aquatic plants such as Microsorum, Taxiphyllum or Cryptocoryne and some floating vegetation. These Tetras are sensitive to fluctuating organic waste; therefore, you should never introduce them to a biologically-immature aquarium.
The Hummingbird Tetra has a scaleless, shimmering blue transparent body as well as an asymmetrical caudal fin with an orangy-red colouring above and sky blue colouring below. In addition, these fish possess a bright spot above their pectoral fins.
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Trochilocharax ornatus |
| Other Names | Crystal Rainbow Tetra, Orange-tailed Glass Tetra |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Characiformes |
| Family | Characidae |
| Genus | Trochilocharax |
| Origins | Peru |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 8+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 1 - 5 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 4.0 - 7.0 |
| GH | 5 - 15 |
| TDS | 18 - 143 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 68 - 82℉ 20 - 27.8℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Hummingbird 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 relatively straightforward to differentiate between male and female Hummingbird Tetras. Adult males are larger, more intensely coloured and develop extended bright red fins. The males also possess a pouch scale on their caudal peduncle. In contrast, females will have much more rounder bodies than males, especially when gravid.