Edit Hyphessobrycon metae
You can suggest changes to this profile. A moderator will review each change.
Name
Scientific name
Hyphessobrycon metae
Described by
Authority Eigenmann & Henn, Year 1914
Family
Characidae
Common names
Purple Tetra
Photograph credits
0 of 1 credited
Summary
The purple tetra, Hyphessobrycon metae, is a characid endemic to the middle Río Orinoco watershed in Colombia and Venezuela. Also known as …
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
40mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 80 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 20–28°C, pH 4–7
Hardness
1–8dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Colombia, Venezuela, Acacias, Agua Blanca, Ariari, Caño Quenane, Capanaparo, Casanare, Chaviripa, Cusiana, Guárico, Guatiquía, Guaviare, Inírida, Manacacías, Manapiare, Manapiari, Manzanares, Meta, Metica, Orinoco, Pecuca, Quenane, Tomo, Yucao
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. metae: …
Distribution
Endemic to the middle Río Orinoco watershed in Colombia (departments of Meta, Casanare, Arauca, Vichada, and Guainía) and Venezuela (states of Amazonas, Apure,…
Habitat
It occurs throughout the vast Los Llanos regions of Colombia and Venezuela, and in the latter country is often associated with habitats known as morichals whic…
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 perhaps best-maintained alongside similarly-sized characids, gastero…
Sexual dimorphism
Sexually mature females are noticeably deeper-bodied and grow slightly larger than males.
Reproduction
Unreported.
Notes
This species is also known as 'Río Meta tetra' in the aquarium trade, although it is often misidentified and its name has frequently been applied to other spec…
References
References
9 on this profile