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Characins

Characin Varieties

Sub-order: Characoidei Lemon Tetra Picture Lemon Tetra Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis Photo © Animal-World.com: Courtesy David Brough

Click on the small images in each category below to access each type of Characin.

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   Hatchetfish are known to break the surface of the water and "fly" after their prey using their large pectoral fins as "wings"!

   Most Characins are schooling fish so they do better in a community aquarium with lots of buddies to hang out with. Apart from the predatory species such as the Piranhas, most Characins are peaceful even though many are carnivores. The herbivorous Characins are known as Limnivores or mud-eaters.

More about Characins: Description, Care & Feeding, and Breeding:

For more Information on keeping freshwater fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Tetras
Black Neon TetraBlackskirt Hifin Tetra
Click for more info on Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Click for more info on Blackskirt Hifin Tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Blackskirt TetraBleeding Heart Tetra
Click for more info on Blackskirt Tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Click for more info on Bleeding Heart Tetra
Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
Bloodfin TetraBuenos Aires Tetra
Click for more info on Bloodfin Tetra
Aphyocharax anisitsi
Click for more info on Buenos Aires Tetra
Hyphessobrycon anisitsi
Cardinal TetraColored Skirt Tetra
Click for more info on Cardinal Tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Click for more info on Colored Skirt Tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Congo TetraDiamond Tetra
Click for more info on Congo Tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
Click for more info on Diamond Tetra
Moenkhausia pittieri
Flame TetraGlowlight Tetra
Click for more info on Flame Tetra
Hyphessobrycon flammeus
Click for more info on Glowlight Tetra
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Golden TetraLemon Tetra
Click for more info on Golden Tetra
Hemigrammus rodwayi
Click for more info on Lemon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
Neon TetraOrnate Tetra
Click for more info on Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Click for more info on Ornate Tetra
Hyphessobrycon bentosi
Phantom TetraRed-eyed Tetra
Click for more info on Phantom Tetra
Hyphessobrycon megalopterus
Click for more info on Red-eyed Tetra
Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae
Rosy tetraRummy-nose Tetra
Click for more info on Rosy tetra
Hyphessobrycon rosaceus
Click for more info on Rummy-nose Tetra
Hemigrammus bleheri
Serpae TetraWhite Tetra
Click for more info on Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
Click for more info on White Tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
X-Ray Fish
Click for more info on X-Ray Fish
Pristella maxillaris

Don't see your favorite Tetra here?
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Hatchetfish
Common HatchetfishMarbled Hatchetfish
Click for more info on Common Hatchetfish
Gasteropelecus sternicla
Click for more info on Marbled Hatchetfish
Carnegiella strigata

Don't see your favorite Hatchefish here?
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Pencilfish
Red Arc Pencilfish
Click for more info on Red Arc Pencilfish
Nannostomus mortenthaleri

Don't see your favorite Pencilfish here?
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Other Characin Fish
African Tiger FishBlack Pacu
Click for more info on African Tiger Fish
Hydrocynus vittatus
Click for more info on Black Pacu
Colossoma macropomum
Black-Banded LeporinusHeadstander
Click for more info on Black-Banded Leporinus
Leporinus fasciatus
Click for more info on Headstander
Anostomus ternetzi
Long-nosed DistichodusPayara
Click for more info on Long-nosed Distichodus
Distichodus lusosso
Click for more info on Payara
Hydrolycus scomberoides
Red Tail BarracudaSabertooth Characin
Click for more info on Red Tail Barracuda
Acestrorhynchus falcatus
Click for more info on Sabertooth Characin
Hydrolycus armatus
Silver Dollar Fish
Click for more info on Silver Dollar Fish
Metynnis argenteus

Don't see your favorite Other Characin Fish here?
Send us a a picture and/or description and we will try to include it!
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Description:
   Characins are found in Central America, South America and Africa. They are considered by some to be the most ancient fishes in the order of Cypriniformes. The fact that they are in both the Americas and Africa is considered proof that the two global continents were once joined! This means that Characins originated before the land masses split in Mesozoic times, some 80 to 150 million years ago. Currently there are about 1000 species in the Americas and about 200 species in Africa along with many species that are not yet discovered.

   A visual clue to a Characin is the adipose fin which has an unknown purpose. There are several genera which have no adipose fin, and several catfish that also have an adipose fin. All the Characins have teeth and scales and none of them have barbels or whiskers.

Care and feeding:
   In the aquarium Characins usually prefer clear, slightly acidic water with strong currents and highly oxygenated water provided by a strong filter and good surface movement. Most will eat a tropical flake food which contains both proteins and vegetable. You can supplement this with additional proteins such as blackworms, bloodworms, or even brine shrimp for those that are carnivorous.

Breeding:
   See Breeding Freshwater Fish for a more information.

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