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Golden TetraFamily: Characidae Hemigrammus rodwayiLatest Reader Comment - See More I have three of these that I bought because they were labled as black neons in the store and I wanted to give my existing black neons some school mates. When I got... (more) Alex C The Golden Tetra looks like it has been sprayed with gold paint all over it's body which makes for a very attractive fish!Golden Tetra Contents The Golden Tetra looks gold because of a specialized protection to its skin. This tetra is more prone to disease than many of the tetras, especially skin parasites. The gold color comes from 'guanin' which is secreted by the skin of this fish to protect it against these parasites. This makes it look like it has been covered with a gold dust, thus its name! The Golden Tetra are a peaceful schooling fish. They like a bright aquarium that is moderately planted. They are not as commonly available as the other more popular tetras, like Neon tetras, but make a nice addition to the community aquarium. Some authors feel the Golden Tetra is a more difficult fish to keep, but we have not had any unusual problems. They are considered a bit more difficult to breed than other characins and for some reason that is not known, the offspring tend to loose their gold coloring. For more Information on keeping this fish see: |
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Habitat: Distribution / Background
The Golden Tetra was described by Durbin in 1909. They are found in South America in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and the Amazon River basin. They inhabit flood plains as well as coastal creeks where there can be some salinity.
- Scientific Name: Hemigrammus rodwayi
- Social Grouping: Groups
- IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed
The Golden Tetra is a full-bodied tetra species. True to its name is looks like it has gold dust sprinkled on its body. The color comes from 'guanin' which is secreted by the skin of this fish to protect it against skin parasites. The top and bottom of the tail fin is red with a black arrowhead shaped spot in the middle. The dorsal and anal fin are golden and are tipped with white, It has a very small soft ray dorsal fin that is also red.
These fish have been successfully bred in captivity, but for some unknown reason the aquarium bred young tend to loose their gold coloring.
- Maximum Size: 1.5 inches (3.81 cm)
- Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately Difficult - Specimens are often wild caught, and as such will generally be less tolerant of fluctuating or suboptimal conditions.
- Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate
Since they are omnivorous the Golden Tetra will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat.
- Diet Type: Omnivore
- Flake Food: Yes
- Tablet Pellet: Yes
- Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
- Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
- Meaty Food: Some of Diet
- Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day
- Water Changes: Bi-weekly
- Minimum Tank Size: 15 gal (57 L)
- Lighting Needs: Low - subdued lighting - Lower light levels will bring out the best reflective qualities of their pigmentation.
- Temperature: 75.0 - 82.0° F (23.9 - 27.8° C)
- Breeding Temperature: 79° F - For breeding, it is recommended to have soft water, pH 6.3, 12° dGH, 79° F.
- Range ph: 6.0-7.5
- Hardness Range: 2 - 15 dGH
- Brackish: No
- Water Movement: Moderate
- Water Region: All
The Golden Tetra are ideal for a community aquarium with other peaceful fish.
- Venomous: No
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Compatible with:
- Same species - conspecifics: Yes
- Peaceful fish (): Safe
- Semi-Aggressive: (): Threat
- Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive
- Plants: Safe
The female has a fuller stomach area. The male's anal fin is white and he has more red than the female. The male is almost always more colorful.
Suggested conditions: Soft water, pH 6.3, 12° dGH, 79° F.
The Golden Tetra are egglayers. The female will lay eggs on plants or green floss. See the description of how Characins breed in Breeding Freshwater Fish.
- Ease of Propagation: Moderate
The Golden Tetra is available from time to time.
Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants
Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants
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