Serpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques)

The Serpae Tetra is an active, hardy and brightly coloured fish. They can become slightly aggressive if they are kept among slow-moving species, but generally, they make good tank mates.

Because of how easy the Serpae tetras are to care for and their unique characteristics, they are prevalent in the aquarium hobby.

The serpae Tetra is flat and tall, a deep reddish, olive-brown colour; however, on the sides, the scarlet red is more pronounced.

Behind the gills, you will notice a black comma-shaped dot is visible, and the dorsal fin is black.

Photos

Feeding

In the home aquarium, the Serpae 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.