Edit Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus
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Name
Scientific name
Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus
Described by
Authority Ulrey, Year 1894, Bracketed
Family
Characidae
Common names
Flag Tetra
Photograph credits
All 3 credited
Summary
The flag tetra, Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus, is a characid from Pará and Maranhão states in eastern Brazil, also known as 'Belgian flag te…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
35mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 80 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 20–26°C, pH 5.5–7.5
Hardness
1–12dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Brazil, Acará, Amazon, Araguaia, Ararandeua, Cachoeirinha, Caeté, Caripi, Curuá, Guamá, Gurupi, Inhangapi, Iriri, Itaporanga, Maracanã, Marajó-Açu, Marapanim, Marcelininho, Maú, Mearim, Pacajá, Paracuri, Paraquequara, Pindaré, Santa Lúcia, Tapajós, Tatuóca, Tauá, Tocantins, Tracuá, Tucunaré, Uraim, Paru (Brazil)
Writing
Etymology
Hyphessobrycon: from the Ancient Greek υπελάσσων (hyphesson), meaning 'of lesser stature', used as a prefix in this case, plus the generic name Brycon. heteror…
Distribution
Has been considered to range throughout the lower and middle Amazon basins as far as southern Colombia, but may be restricted to tributaries and coastal draina…
Habitat
Almost exclusively collected from small streams known as igarapés in the Amazon region, and appears to be a typical resident of terra firme (not subject to lon…
Aquarium size
An aquarium with base dimensions of 80 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent should be the smallest considered.
Maintenance
Perhaps looks best in an arrangement comprising a sandy substrate plus some driftwood roots and branches, or heavily-planted planted set-up. The addition of dr…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
Likely to be omnivorous feeding on small invertebrates, crustacea, filamentous algae, fallen fruit and suchlike in nature. In aquaria it may survive on a diet …
Behaviour and compatibility
Very peaceful making it an ideal resident of the well-researched community aquarium. It is best-maintained alongside similarly-sized characids, gasteropelecids…
Sexual dimorphism
Sexually mature females are noticeably deeper-bodied and a little larger than males.
Reproduction
An egg-scattering free spawner exhibiting no parental care. When in good condition adults will spawn often and in a mature aquarium it is possible that small n…
Notes
This species is also known as 'Belgian flag tetra' in the aquarium hobby. Its name appears to have been misapplied to similar-looking fishes occurring througho…
References
References
14 on this profile