红蓝灯 · Colombian Tetra

Overview

Silver-bodied with blue iridescence above and vivid red tail and anal fins, Hyphessobrycon columbianus shows this striking pattern in both sexes. It is generally peaceful and gives a more natural display in a group within a carefully chosen community.

Distribution & habitat

It appears to be known only from the Acandí River in Chocó, northern Colombia, near Panama and the Atlantic coast.

Aquarium setup

Décor is flexible, but a structured, preferably planted layout encourages good coloration. Retain room for the group to move. Powerful current is unnecessary, though some water movement is appreciated.

Diet & feeding

It is probably an omnivorous forager, taking mostly small worms, insects, and zooplankton with some plant matter and detritus. Captive feeding is easy: combine quality flakes or granules, including plant-rich products, with small live or frozen foods such as chironomid larvae, water fleas, and Artemia.

Behaviour & compatibility

Maintain a mixed-sex group of at least eight to ten. Similar-sized characins, small catfish, and nonpredatory medium cichlids are suitable directions. Other gentle schooling fishes can help provide security.

Sexual dimorphism

Mature males are generally slimmer and slightly smaller, with a longer dorsal fin and potentially stronger coloration. Both sexes share the basic pattern, so blue and red colors do not identify a male by themselves.

Breeding

It scatters eggs without parental care and can spawn frequently in good condition. A few young may survive in a mature community, but a separate dim setup retains more. Use mature water, gentle aeration or sponge filtration, and egg protection through mesh, marbles, or abundant fine plants.

Condition adults together, then introduce a pair or one or two males with several females and check for eggs the following morning. Spawning may last two to four hours; a well-conditioned female can produce around two thousand eggs, though that is not a routine guarantee. Hatching follows in roughly a day to a day and a half, with substantial yolk still attached. Begin feeding with Paramecium or very fine fry food, progressing to Artemia nauplii and microworms.