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Characin VarietiesSub-order: Characoidei  Lemon Tetra Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis Photo © Animal-World.com Click on the small images in each category below to access each type of Characin.
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:
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| TETRAS | ||
| Black Neon Tetra | Black Phantom Tetra | |
|---|---|---|
 Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi |
 Megalamphodus megalopterus |
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| Blackskirt Tetra ~ Black Widow | Blackskirt Hifin Tetra | |
 Gymnocorymbus ternetzi |
 Gymnocorymbus ternetzi (var) |
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| Colored Skirt Tetra | Bleeding Heart Tetra | |
 Gymnocorymbus ternetzi (Var) |
 Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma |
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| Bloodfin Tetra | Buenos Aires Tetra | |
 Aphyocharax anisitsi |
 Hyphessobrycon anisitsi |
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| Cardinal Tetra | Congo Tetra | |
 Paracheirodon axelrodi |
 Phenocogrammus interruptus |
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| Diamond Tetra ~ Pittier's Tetra | Flame Tetra ~ Fire Tetra ~ Von Rio Tetra | |
 Moenkhausia pitteri |
TetraWFCh_C1250_vsm.jpg) Hyphessobrycon flammeus |
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| Glow-light Tetra | Golden Tetra | |
 Hemigrammus erythrozonus |
 Hemmigrammus rodwayi |
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| Lemon Tetra | Neon Tetra | |
 Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis |
 Paracheirodon innesi |
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| Ornate Tetra ~ White Tip Tetra | Rosy Tetra | |
 Hyphessobrycon bentosi |
 Hyphessobrycon rosaceus |
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| Rummynose-Tetra | Serpae Tetra ~ Red Minor Tetra | |
 Hemigrammus bleheri |
 Hyphessobrycon serpae |
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| White Tetra, Goldskirt Tetra | X-Ray Fish ~ Pristella Tetra (Golden) | |
TetraWFCh_C2436_vsm.jpg) Gymnocorymbus ternetzi (var) |
Trichogaster chuna |
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| Red-eye Tetra Yellow-banded Moenkhausia |
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 Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae |
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| HATCHETFISH | |
| Common or Silver Hatchetfish | Marbled Hatchetfish |
|---|---|
HatchetfishWFCh_P218_vsm.jpg) Gasteropelecus sternicla |
 Carnegiella strigata |
| PENCILFISH | |
| Red Arc Pencilfish | |
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 Nannostomus mortenthaleri |
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| MORE CHARACINS | |
| Banded Leporinus | Headstander |
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 Leporinus fasciatus |
 Anostomus ternetzi |
| Silver Dollar | |
 Metynnis argenteus |
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Don't see your favorite Characin fish
here?
Send us a a picture and/or description and we'll try to include it!
~ Submit it Here ~
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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