豚形半线脂鲤 · January Tetra

Overview

Hemigrammus hyanuary is a peaceful shoaling tetra that is less commonly encountered in trade. It can lose color in alkaline conditions. A quiet aquarium with suitable soft, mildly acidic water is preferable to a competitive community.

Distribution & habitat

It occurs in the Amazon basin of Peru and Brazil. The type specimen came from Lake Hyanuary near Manaus. Slow river sections, tributaries, and floodplain lakes are typical habitats.

Aquarium setup

Sand, wood, roots, and dried leaves can create a subdued, lightly tannin-stained layout. Remove deteriorating leaves before they affect water quality. Although dense plants are not characteristic of its natural waters, a carefully maintained planted aquarium also works. Trade fish are likely wild-caught, making stable conditions and careful settling especially relevant.

Diet & feeding

Small invertebrates form the main natural diet. Captive fish generally accept flakes and granules as well as small live and frozen foods. Offer a varied combination.

Behaviour & compatibility

Keep six at minimum, preferably ten or more. Gentle tetras, pencilfishes, dwarf cichlids, cory-type catfishes, and small loricariids are possible companions. Some small rasboras can also suit matching conditions. Avoid much larger or excessively active fishes that could dominate feeding.

Sexual dimorphism

Adult males are a little smaller and distinctly slimmer. They also possess a small anal-fin hook absent in females.

Breeding

Use a separate, very dim aquarium with soft acidic water, fine plants or spawning mops, and gentle sponge filtration. Mesh can protect the eggs. Either a conditioned group or a selected pair may be used. With pair spawning, separate the sexes beforehand, then introduce ripe adults in the evening; spawning often follows in the morning.

Remove parents once eggs are seen. Hatching takes about twenty-four to thirty-six hours, followed by three or four more days before independent swimming. Begin with infusoria, then move to microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp. Eggs and early fry are light-sensitive and should be kept very dim.

Notes

It resembles an elongated head-and-tail-light tetra, Hemigrammus ocellifer, and can be confused with that fish. Costello tetra and green neon tetra are additional trade names, so names alone are insufficient for identification.