Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Characins > Serpae Tetra

Serpae TetraRed Minor Tetra ~ Jewel Tetra

Family: Characidae

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Hyphessobrycon equesPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

     The Serpae Tetra, with its contrasting red to black and a sprinkling of jewels, is truly a beautiful fish!

     The Serpae Tetra, also known as the Red Minor Tetra or Jewel Tetra, is a great attraction in an aquarium. The name 'Red Minor' makes this fish quickly recognized while its other names are derived from some of its descriptive junior scientific names. For example, from the junior synonym Hyphessobrycon callistus the term 'callistus' means 'very beautiful', thus the term 'jewel'. Another junior synonym, Hyphessobrycon serpae, has led to the name 'Serpae Tetra'.

     A school of these fish are real eye catchers in the aquarium. They are also easy to care for. The Serpae Tetra are usually fine in a community situation, however they are not always easy to get along with. Smaller fish especially may become the target of relentless harassment and fin nipping. They will do best in a tank with other similar sized and active fish. Once they are established the Serpae Tetra are very hardy and long lived, and they are easy to breed.

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

Distribution:      The Serpae Tetra, also known as the Red Minor Tetra or Jewel Tetra, was described by Steindachner in 1882. They are found in South America, particularly in upper Paraguay and the Madeira and Guapore regions. They frequently inhabit densely vegetated and stagnant waters where they stay close to the surface among plants. They feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plants.

Status:      The species is not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:      The Serpae Tetra is a deep bodied fish with the typical tetra shape. Its body has a beautiful reddish color that picks up flashy jewel type highlights and there is a large, almost diamond shaped, black spot behind the gills. Their fins are mostly black with tips of white. It has also been developed in a longfinned variety.

Size - Weight:      These fish get up to 1.75 inches (4 cm).

Care and feeding:      Since they are omnivorous the Serpae Tetra, or Red Minor 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.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:      These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:      Hardness: 8-12 ° dGH
     Ph: 6.5 to 7.0
     Temp: (72-82 ° F) 26-28 ° C (Not below 24 ° C at any time)

Social Behaviors:      The Serpae Tetra can be a good community fish but only if kept with fish that are the same size or bigger. Smaller fish may become targets, getting harassed and getting their fins nipped.

Sexual Differences:      The males are brighter colored. The females are fuller bodied than the males.

Breeding/Reproduction:      The Serpae Tetra, or Red Minor Tetra are egg layers. Provide bunches of fine-leaved plants such as Myrophyllum or artificial spawning grass.

Buy Serpae Tetras or Red Minor Tetras From LiveAquaria.com

     See the general description of how to breed egg layers in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:      The Serpae Tetra, or Red Minor Tetra is readily available and reasonably priced. There is also a longfinned variety that has been developed and is often available.

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These fish truly are amazing when they show off their full orange coloration. I have 5 of these tetras in my 10 gallon tank. They share the tank with 4 dwarf aquatic frogs. Its a perfect relationship. The serpaes like the top of the tank and the frogs like the bottom. Whenever a fish or frog dies, I just go to the petstore, buy a new one and within minutes, the new addition is readily accepted by everyone. Serpae tetras are easy to keep and fun to watch. They are always lively and are racing around the tank. The frogs just sit and watch. I would recommend serpaes to anyone because of their bright orange coloration and their lively personality. kyle 2010-01-10
I currently have a 25 gallon tank. Right now I have 30 fish in it. That may sound like alot, but its working for me and the fish. The tank has been up and running since 2006. I make a regular water change of about 20% (I try to do it every 1 to 2 weeks). Have never changed the whole tank. At this moment I have 5 serpae tetras, 10 black skirt tetras, 5 gold pristilla tetras, 1 pristella tetra, 3 angel fish, 2 clown loaches, 2 yoyo loaches, 1 golden algae eater and on plecostomus. The serpae tetras are the newest addition, had them for just over 6 months now. Some of the other fish I had prior to getting this tank. I have real plants, drift wood, the works. Its been awhile since I have had a fish die. I think the key is to make sure that your tank water is well established and try to keep up with regular water changes (not all the water though!!!!). The serpa tetras made a nice addition to the tank. Its fun and interesting to watch all the fish interact. Andrew 2009-11-12
Hello, I always wanted a fish tank. So one day I went and bought me a 29 gallon tank. I had swordtails, tetras, mollies, and platies. Well I was having some bad luck with my tank, my swordtails lived for about a month and died. So I went and got more that were pregnant but a week later they died. So now for the tetras, I had about four, three died three weeks later. So on 10-7-09 I bougout four more tetras. I also have gold zebras, danios zebras. Well I'm just going to wait and see what's going to happen. Shamika Daughtry 2009-10-08
I've had 1 of these fish and it did very well in the tank until the 3rd day when it died. So we had it replaced with the same fish & once again on the 3rd day it died. I have other fish in the tank but the other fish are smaller or of similar size & it did not look like it had been "eaten" but nevertheless it is still dead. I don't know what to do about it. Maybe it's the tank, maybe it's the fish, maybe it's the store I'm getting them from. I don't know. Megan 2009-08-13
I started out buying two red minor serpae tetras and 2 giant danio fish. They get along great. The giant danio love the top of the tank and the serpae stay towards the bottom under a small bridge I bought. The serpae do not even bother the danio fish because they are small in size comparison. It's only a 2 gallon tank to :) Anonymous 2009-05-29
Some of the coolest comments:
Serpae tetras are great little fish, and they go well with many types of other fish. Right now, I have five of them, three dwarf gourami, and a synodontis eupterus (a bottom-feeder type of fish) in my thirty-gallon tank. They are doing beautifully, and I plan to add more soon. Jill Horton 2005-03-27

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