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Serpae Tetra

Red Minor Tetra ~ Jewel Tetra

Family: CharacidaeHyphessobrycon 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

Geographic Distribution Hyphessobrycon eques Data provided by FishBase.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Characiformes Family: Characidae

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   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.

• Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon eques
• Social Grouping: Groups
• IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed

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.

• Maximum Size: 1.8 inches (4.45 cm)

Fish Keeping Difficulty

• Aquarium Hardiness: Very Hardy
• Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner - This is an excellent beginner fish as it is both robust and tolerant of a wide range of water conditions.

Foods 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.

• Diet Type: Omnivore
• Flake Food: Yes
• Tablet Pellet: Yes
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day

Aquarium Care

• Water Changes: Bi-weekly

Aquarium Setup

• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gal (76 L)
• Substrate Type: Any
• Lighting Needs: Low - subdued lighting - Low lighting and a tank with a dark, shadowy set up will bring out the best coloration.
• Temperature: 72.0 - 82.0° F (22.2 - 27.8° C) - (Not below 24° C at any time)
• Range ph: 5.5-7.5
• Hardness Range: 5 - 20 dGH
• Brackish: No
• Water Movement: Strong
• Water Region: All

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.

• Venomous: No
• Temperament: Peaceful - This fish may bully smaller and slower moving fish. It should be kept in a small school as this will both make it comfortable and diffuse some of its pugnacious tendencies within the group such that other fish are less likely to be attacked.
• Compatible with:
  • Same species - conspecifics: Yes
  • Peaceful fish (): Safe
  • Semi-Aggressive: (): Threat
  • Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive
  • Plants: Monitor - May nibble on some aquarium plants.

Sex: 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.

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

• Ease of Propagation: Easy

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.

References

Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants

Author: David Brough, CFS

• Hyphessobrycon eques : $1.99

Hyphessobrycon Eques Serpae Tetra Offered By: That Pet Place Price: $1.99

Lastest Comments on Serpae Tetra View all 37 comments on Serpae Tetra Add Your Comment

Chagatai Moto - 2011-11-15 I have 6 serpae tetras and 3 platies, I really enjoy taking care of these fish. Sometimes, my serpae tetras would chase each other and dispute their ranks. Click For Replies (4) Charlie Roche - 2011-11-17 I used to think they were just playing - tag or something but then I learned it had something to do with the ranking. Moto - 2011-11-22 These are aggressive fish, sometimes you can see their fins are nipped because of their pecking order. But I think the most important is tank maintanance, I am not an expert fish keeper but I read a lot about tank maintenance, a good maintained tank will keep your fishes healthy and they will live longer. Anonymous - 2012-01-19 They are not agressive, they just have a strong pecking order. Chagatai Moto - 2012-01-25 Well, IF THEY ARE NOT AGGRESSIVE, then they can be a good companion for the fishes that have long fins!. .dude.., as we know these guys like chase and nip some guppies and alike., .pecking order is just in their group, but they have the tendency to pick on long finned ones, a PEACEFUL FISH doesn't bother any specie in their tank dude. well you may try some small neon tetra in your tank and some couple of serpae tetra in there..and your neons will be an instant snack by these guys.. Reply

Nate - 2010-12-22 I added 4 Red Serpa Tetras to my 75 gallon tank and they started of shoaling together very well. Now two weeks later they are constantly nipping at each other. I have 7 red wag fry (three months old) 3 adult red wags. I also have one dalmatian molly (the other two didn't survive after a case of ich). They don't bother any of the other fish including the fry. Now one of the Tetras has a huge chunk ripped out of his top (dorsal?) fin. Any way to tame these once calm fish? Click For Replies (2) bill - 2011-05-01 I had same problem with four. Increased the number to six and the problem is gone. Reply

Chagatai Moto - 2011-11-15 When taking care of Serpae Tetra, make sure that your tank size will fit on them, I have a 15 gallon tank with 6 Serpae Tetras and 3 platies, and by following the rule of " 1 inch of fish per 1 gallon of water" really works, You should know their full grown size before deciding what kind of tank size they need to be stocked, Serpae Tetras, as we know have a 1.5 inch adult size. 6 Serpae Tetras has a total of 9 inches for a 9 gallon of water, and my remaining 6 inches will go to the 3 Platies, Platies have an adult size of 2 inches which has a total of 6 inches for a 6 remaining gallon of water for the 15 gallon tank. Since you have a school of 6 or more Serpae Tetras, it will limit their fin nipping behavior, and most important is you have to cycle your tank appropriately. A good filter, good maintenance, and keeping good water conditions will prevent your fish from death and disease, and finally..you should research your fish for compatible tankmates for a community aquarium. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-11-17 Thank you. Reply

Shelley - 2011-08-19 I had my Serpae tetra die when I removed it from the tank it looked like there was blood in the gill area sshould I be concerned Click For Replies (1) Chagatai Moto - 2011-11-15 Check your water conditions, and the stock of fishes you have in your aquarium. Reply

tom - 2010-09-23 We have 8 serpae tetra in our 100 gal tank along with 10 cardinal tetra and 7 pristella tetra they all seem to shoal together in the tank without a problem love their brilliant red color. Reply

Shamika Daughtry - 2009-10-08 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. Click For Replies (2) andrea - 2010-02-27 You either have new tank syndrome (bad water quality) or you have a bad fish store you are buying from. RW - 2010-07-28 For best results with first time tank bought, start by buying the tank and accessories only. Treat the water with neutralizer to remove chlorine which kills fishes. Wash the substrate well in a small basin with running water for at least 3 rinses. Set up your tank and run the filters for at least 3 days w/o any fishes. Introduce the fishes starting with surface or mid water fishes. Add the bottom dwellers last about at least a week since they are susceptible to ingest poisons that may sit on the substrate. If you are using tap water. Keep at least gallons of it (enough to do a 50% water change) stored at all times pre-treated with neutralizer and only use it at least 2 days after they sit in storage. You may disturb the stored water during storage to release chlorine bubbles depositing on the sides of the container. For best water quality, you may use R.O. though expensive. Reply

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