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Lemon TetraFamily: Characidae Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnisPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David BroughLatest Reader Comment - See More I Love these fish they have a good personality, like when my Bala gets scared and swims into the "Cave" he looks at them and looks at you like "I Can take you on,... (more) Anonymous The Lemon Tetra is a curious fish, transparent looking but with a bold yellow splash of color on its lower fin!Lemon Tetra Contents The lemon Tetra is a very good community fish but is happiest in a school of 6 or more of its own kind. The Lemon Tetra likes a planted aquarium balanced with plenty of open space to swim around with it's buddies. They are most comfortable in an aquarium with floating plants as well as some open spaces to swim in. This is a very pretty fish, but the Lemon Tetra is most attractive if it is well maintained. It will show its best coloring with a proper diet which can be provided with a color enhancing food, such as Tetra Ruby. There is now a color morph which has been developed that is an albino form, but the lemon form is still preferred. For more Information on keeping this fish see: |
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Habitat: Distribution / Background
The Lemon Tetra was described by Ahl in 1937. They are found in South America in the Iquitos region of the Peruvian amazon, in the Tapajós River basin where they feed on worms, small crustaceans and plants.
- Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
- Social Grouping: Groups
- IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed
The Lemon Tetra is a full-bodied and laterally compressed species of tetra. Its body is a transparent with a very delicate golden yellow-orange color. The front part of the anal fin is bright yellow and is edged with black and the the top half of the eyes is a deep red.
- Maximum Size: 2.0 inches (5.08 cm)
- Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy
- Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner
The Lemon Tetra really benefits from "color" foods. Since they are omnivorous these fish 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 - This fish should be fed a rich and diverse diet to promote good coloration.
- Water Changes: Bi-weekly
- Minimum Tank Size: 15 gal (57 L) - A fifteen gallon is the smallest size that could house the small school this fish requires to be comfortable and show its best coloration.
- Substrate Type: Any
- Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting - In very strong lighting, especially if the tank gravel and decorations are bright this fish will appear washed out.
- Temperature: 72.0 - 82.0° F (22.2 - 27.8° C)
- Range ph: 5.5-8.0
- Hardness Range: 3 - 25 dGH - The lemon tetra will lose color at higher dGH.
- Brackish: No
- Water Movement: Moderate
- Water Region: All
The Lemon Tetra is 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 male has a more pointed dorsal fin and is more colorful than the female. The female is plumper.
The Lemon Tetras are egg layers and are moderately easy to breed. See a general description of how to breed egg layers in Breeding Freshwater Fish.
- Ease of Propagation: Moderate - Fish tend to breed either very readily or extremely reluctantly, dependent upon compatibility of breeding pairs and tank conditions.
The Lemon Tetra is readily available and reasonably priced.
Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants
Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants
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