Blueberry Tetra (Hyphessobrycon wadai)

Blueberry Tetra Hyphessobrycon wadai
Name	Blueberry Tetra
Name Lat.	Hyphessobrycon wadai
Family	Characins
Family lat.	Characidae
Order	Characins
Order lat.	Characiformes
Origin	South America
Habitat	Streams
Diet	Omnivore
pH	6.0-7.0
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Group
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Egg scatterer
Breeding	Difficult
Life Span	N/A
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	3-4 cm
Temperature	22-27 °C
Hardness	1-10 °dH
Aquarium	50 l
US Units
Size	1.4"-1.6"
Temperature	72-81 °F
Hardness	18-178 ppm
Aquarium	15 gal

Distribution and habitat

The range of the Blackberry Tetra is the inlet of the upper Rio Tapajós in Brazil, where they are found in the Rio Juruena and other tributaries. They live in the margins of small rivers and streams with muddy bottoms and dense underwater vegetation.

Maintenance

The aquarium should have a varied, partly dense planting, with shelters and hiding places (roots) and provide sufficient swimming space. A dark substrate covered with some foliage (e.g. sea almond tree, oak), shaded light (floating plants) and soft, slightly acidic water with a weak current is ideal.

No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.

Diet

The food supply consists of live, frozen and dry food. For a balanced diet, feed once a day with a high-quality dry food (flakes, granules, pellets) as well as cyclops, daphnia, mosquito larvae, artemia and tubifex (live or frozen). In addition, they need regular vegetable food, such as pureed leafy and wild vegetables, algae leaves or dry food with vegetable ingredients (e.g. spirulina, kelp).

Only feed as much as will be eaten within a few minutes. A regular and varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Behaviour and compatibility

They are lively schooling fish that should be kept in a group of at least 5-10 fish. They can be kept well with other peaceful fish in a community aquarium

Basically, only mutually compatible fish species with similar requirements for water conditions and water temperature should be socialized.

Sex dimorphism

The males are more colorful, the fins shimmer orange-red at the base and have a long extended dorsal fin when older. The females appear somewhat more rounded.

Reproduction and breeding

In soft, slightly acidic peat water, they usually spawn up to 400 eggs between fine-feathered plants (free spawners) and do not engage in brood care. The larvae hatch after approx. 36 hours and swim freely after approx. 4 days.

Fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food (Artemia nauplii, dust food). In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the spawn is easy prey.

Important

Adequate feeding of plant food reduces the risk of fish eating the tender shoots of aquatic plants.

The foliage (sea almond tree, oak, etc.) enriches the water with humic substances, naturally lowers the pH and, when rotting, promotes the development of microorganisms, which are a valuable secondary food source.

The well-being of the fish should be monitored regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even when contaminant levels have not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: petdata; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch 

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF