Phoenix Tetra (Hemigrammus filamentosus)
The Phoenix Tetra is an active, peaceful, hardy, undemanding, and non-aggressive fish, that are continuously darting around the tank showing off to one another. Because of its small size, these fish are perfect for many different sized tanks. With its stunning good looks and its pleasant personality, expect this species of tetra to become a popular addition to the community aquarium.
This fish usually displays a silvery grey body with a delicate gold sheen and there dorsal and anal and pelvic fins are a beautiful red colouration with white extensions.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hemigrammus filamentosus |
| Family | Characidae |
| Genus | Hemigrammus |
| Origins | South America |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 10+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 3 - 5 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.5 - 7.5 |
| GH | 5 - 12 |
| KH | 4 - 8 |
| Temperature | |
| 75 - 78℉ 23.9 - 25.6℃ | |
Natural Habitat
The Phoenix Tetra comes from the Rio Araguaya Basin in Brazil in South America.
They inhabit slow-moving, ponds, lakes and rivers with a dark substrate and dense vegetation where they can find both safety and food.
Other Tetras of interest
What to feed the Phoenix Tetra
The Phoenix Tetras are not fussy when it comes to what they eat. They will readily accept flakes and granules as well as live, frozen and freeze-dried foods such as daphnia, bloodworm and brine shrimp which in hand will bring out their best colour and condition.
How to Sex the Phoenix Tetra
It is relatively easy to differentiate the males from the females. The males have longer filaments on the fins and are a gorgeous red colour, whereas the female's caudal fin in translucent.
How to Breed the Phoenix Tetra
Like other tetras The Phoenix Tetra will require a separate breeding tank, this should be dimly lit with soft water, heavily planted to provide covered areas for them to spawn in. The temperature should be raised by a few degrees higher than usual, and a small air-powered filter is required for filtration and gentle movement.
For the healthiest and best fry, you will need to choose the best-coloured male and your strongest female, and place them into the breeding tank and feed them with high-quality rich food such as live and frozen food.
The Phoenix Tetra will usually spawn in the early morning, and the female will lay a couple of hundred eggs on the available plants which the male will fertilise.
Once spawning has taken place, and all eggs have been laid, you should remove the parents, as they will consume the eggs.
After about 24 to 36 hours, the eggs will start to hatch, then 3 to 4 days after that, the fry will become free-swimming.