Rio Tapajos Basin

The black stripe tetra, Hyphessobrycon melanostichos, is a characid endemic to the Rio Doze de Outubro in the upper Rio Tapajos basin, Brazil. It shares a number of similarities with Hyphessobrycon sp. 'Blue Ribbon' but has a lighter, more streamlined body, a smaller humeral spot and red colouring. It can become territorial in small tanks, but a group of 10 or more should prevent problems.