Serpae Tetra
Red Minor Tetra, Jewel Tetra, Callistus Tetra
Family: Characidae
Hyphessobrycon equesPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David BroughLatest Reader Comment - See More
Ok well I have a tetra and he is in with three Molly's and four little angel fish and also a gormi at first he was grate and he didn't bother any of my other fish... (more) Caitlin
The Serpae Tetra has a contrasting red to black coloring and looks like its sprinkled with jewels!
Contents:
Serpae Tetra FactsKeeping Serpae TetraThe Serpae Tetra Hyphessobrycon eques is a beautiful fish and truly looks like it sparkles with jewels in the aquarium. A school of of these tetras are real eye catchers. They have a beautiful reddish color that picks up flashy jewel type highlights. They are also adorned with a large, almost diamond shaped black spot, just behind the gills.
A number of very different common names are used to describe this decorative tetra. These include Red Minor Tetra, Jewel Tetra, Callistus Tetra, Red Serpa, Blood Characin, Blood Tetra, and even Red Phantom Tetra. This fish is quickly recognized as a Red Minor Tetra while these other names have more of a story.
This tetra used to be described scientifically as Hyphessobrycon callistus. Today that is a junior synonym but from it comes the term 'callistus' meaning 'very beautiful'. So this characin became known as Callistus Tetra. Also from this term, along with its flashy appearance, it became known as the Jewel Tetra. Another junior synonym, H. serpae, led to the not so flashy names of Serpae Tetra and Red Serpa. There is also a variety with long fins usually referred to as Long Fin Red Minor Tetra or Long Finned Serpae Tetra.
The names Blood Tetra and Blood Characin are more curious. They come from it being a member a of a complex of `blood' tetras'. This loosely defined complex refers to a wide range of tetras with a base body color of red, that are often hybridized for the aquarium trade. Finally, some authors will refer to this fish as the Red Phantom Tetra. So be careful not to confused it with Hyphessobrycon sweglesi, which is more commonly accepted as the Red Phantom.
A school of Serpae Tetra 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 with the company of their own kind, and a school of at least six is needed. They can also get along fine with other similar sized and active fish. Once they are established they 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
| ||||
 |
Serpae Tetra - Quick Aquarium Care
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Aquarium Hardiness: Very Hardy
- Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner
- Diet Type: Omnivore
- Minimum Tank Size: 20 gal (76 L)
- Temperature: 72.0 to 82.0° F (22.2 to 27.8° C)
- Range ph: 5.5-7.5
- Hardness Range: 5 - 20 dGH
Enter a Freshwater Aquarium
- My Aquarium - Enter your aquarium to see if this fish is compatible!
Popular Searches
- Beginner Fish - Freshwater fish for beginners
- Community Fish - Peaceful Freshwater fish
- Hardy Fish - Hardy Freshwater fish
- Similar size fish - Fish that are 1 inch bigger or smaller
- Coldwater Fish - Looking for cold water fish? (65 °)
Habitat: Distribution / Background
The Serpae Tetra Hyphessobrycon eques (previously Hyphessobrycon callistus) was described by Steindachner in 1882. They are found in South America, particularly in upper Paraguay and the Madeira and Guapore regions. This species is not listed on the IUCN Red List. Other common names they are known by include Red Minor Tetra, Jewel Tetra, Callistus Tetra, Blood Characin, Blood Tetra, Red Serpa, Callistus, and some authors refer to them as a Red Phantom Tetra. Long finned Serpae Tetra variety has been developed in captivity, also called Long Fin Red Minor Tetra.
They frequently inhabit densely vegetated and stagnant waters that include tributaries, ponds, and small lakes. They stay close to the surface among the plants and feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter. They are a gregarious species, living in groups, but will frequently bite each other's fins during feeding.
- Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon eques
- Social Grouping: Groups
- IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed
The Serpae Tetra is a deep bodied fish with the typical tetra shape. It is a somewhat elongated oval from the side view and compressed laterally.This fish will generally reach about 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) in length and has a lifespan of generally about 3 - 7 years. Its body has a beautiful reddish color that picks up flashy jewel type highlights. 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 long finned variety, usually referred to as Long Finned Serpae Tetra or Long Fin Red Minor Tetra.
- Size of fish - inches: 1.6 inches (3.99 cm)
- Lifespan: 7 years - These fish generally have a life span of 3 - 7 years, though some have reportedly lived up to 10 years.
The Serpae Tetra is a very durable fish that is great for the beginner fish keeper. Although these fish are easy to care for they do have some traits that are less then ideal and can make them a poor choice for tanks with passive inhabitants. These fish can be very boisterous and constantly harass the others in the tank. This in turn can lead to stress issues for shy or gentle tankmates.
- 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.
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. These tetras like several feedings a day, but offer only what they can consume in 3 minutes or less at each feeding.
- 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
Serpae Tetras are not exceptionally difficult to care for provided the water is kept clean. Aquariums are closed systems and regardless on size all need some maintenance. Over time decomposing organic matter, nitrates, and phosphate build up and the water hardness increases due to evaporation. To combat these ever changing conditions water should be replaced on a regular basis, especially if the tank is densely stocked. At least 25 - 50% of the tank water should be replaced every other week.
- Water Changes: Bi-weekly
These fish are fairly hardy and a school of six will do best in about a 20 gallon aquarium. Adding aquarium safe peat to the tank will simulate the black water that these fish inhabit in nature. They need a high quality filter but make sure it does not create too much current as this fish prefers more sluggish waters. The lighting in the tank should be dim as they come from areas that have dense forest cover.
The aquarium should be heavily planted around the sides and back and have plenty of open water for swimming in the front. A few hiding places would be appreciated. Woodwork and floating plants will make them feel comfortable. A biotope tank is preferred by the Serpae Tetra. Using a substrate of river sand and scattered drift wood and twisted roots with a hand full of dried leaves make a good natural feel to the tank. Make sure to remove and replace the dried leaves every few weeks.
- Minimum Tank Size: 20 gal (76 L)
- Suitable for Nano Tank: Yes
- Substrate Type: Any
- Lighting Needs: Low - subdued lighting - A tank with a dark, shadowy set up and low lighting will bring out their best coloration.
- Temperature: 72.0 to 82.0° F (22.2 to 27.8° C) - They should not be kept below 77° F (24° C) at any time.
- Breeding Temperature: 75.0° F - Breeding temperatures between 75.0 to 82.0° F (24 to 27.8° C).
- Range ph: 5.5-7.5
- Hardness Range: 5 - 20 dGH
- Brackish: No
- Water Movement: Moderate
- Water Region: All - These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium but will tend to spend a lot of time close to the top if their are floating plants.
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. It is also not advisable to keep this fish with slow swimming long finned tank mates. Good choices are similar sized tetras, rainbowfish, larger rasboras, barbs and danios. They do best when kept in pairs, or in schools of at least 5 - 6 individuals. Groups will make them feel comfortable and help diffuse some of their pugnacious tendencies. If two males are kept together they will act as if they are fighting but will not actually hurt each other. Tetras can be easily spooked into hiding so situate the tank appropriately.
- Venomous: No
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Compatible with:
- Same species - conspecifics: Yes - They do best in a school of 6 or more of their own kind.
- Peaceful fish (): Safe - This fish may bully smaller and slower moving fish. Keeping it in a school will make it more comfortable and diffuse some of its pugnacious tendencies towards other fish.
- Semi-Aggressive (): Threat
- Aggressive (): Threat
- Large Semi-Aggressive (): Threat
- Large Aggressive, Predatory (): Threat
- Slow Swimmers & Eaters (): Monitor
- Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive
- Plants: Monitor - May nibble on some aquarium plants.
The males are brighter colored and the dorsal fin of the male is almost solid back and the females lack the color in the lower part of the fin. The females are fuller bodied than the males.
These tetras are egg layers and easy to breed. Provide a small breeding tank of about 3 to 5 gallons, and condition the pair. Provide bunches of fine-leaved plants such as Myrophyllum or artificial spawning grass. Recommended conditions: temp: 75.0 to 82.0° F (24 to 27.8° C) , pH 5.5 - 6.8 (6.8 is best), and hardness of 10° dGH. See a general description of how to breed egg layers in Breeding Freshwater Fish: Characins.
- Ease of Breeding: Easy
The Serpae Tetra is very hardy and disease is not usually a problem in a well maintained aquarium. That being said there is no guarantee that you won't have to deal with health problems or disease. Anything you add to your tank can bring disease to your tank. Not only other fish but plants, substrate, and decorations can harbor bacteria. Take great care and make sure to properly clean or quarantine anything that you add to an established tank so not to upset the balance.
A good thing about the Serpae Tetra is that due to their resilience, an outbreak of disease can often be limited to just one or a few fishes if you deal with it at an early stage. When keeping more sensitive types of fish, it is common for all fishes to be infected even before the first warning signs can be noticed. The best way to proactively prevent disease is to give your Flame Tetra the proper environment and give them a well balanced diet. The closer to their natural habitat the less stress the fish will have, making them healthier and happy. Stressed fish are more likely to acquire disease.
As with most fish they are prone to skin flukes, parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.), ichthyobodo infection, parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.), bacterial infections (general), and bacterial disease. It is recommended to read up on the common tank diseases. Knowing the signs and catching and treating them early makes a huge difference. For information about freshwater fish diseases and illnesses, see Aquarium Fish Diseases and Treatments.
The Serpae Tetra, or Red Minor Tetra, is readily available in pet stores and online, and is reasonably priced. There is also a longfinned variety that has been developed and is often available. This variety is usually referred to as Long Fin Red Minor Tetra or Long Finned Serpae Tetra.
- Animal-World References: Freshwater Fish and Plants
- Dr. Rüdiger Riehl and Hans A. Baensch, Aquarium Atlas Vol. 1, Publisher Hans A. Baensch, 1991
- Glen S. Axelrod, Brian M. Scott, Neal Pronek, Encyclopedia Of Exotic Tropical Fishes For Freshwater Aquariums, TFH Publications, 2005
- Joseph S. Nelson, Fishes of the World, Wiley, 2006.
- Marc Ladonne, Aquarium Fish , Barnes Noble, 1999
- Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod, Aquarium Fishes of the World, TFH Publications, 1998
- Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod, Dr. Warren E Burgess, Dr. Cliff W. Emmens, Neal Pronek, Jerry G. Walls, Ray Hunziker, Dr. Axelrod's Mini-Atlas of Aquarium Fishes, Mini- Edition, T.F.H. Publications, Inc., 1987
- Hyphessobrycon eques (Steindachner, 1882) Jewel tetra, Fishbase.org
| Serpae Tetra Hyphessobrycon Eques Offered By: That Pet Place Price: $1.79  |
 |
