Care
A beautiful species that grows larger than many other Tetra species. Best kept in groups of 6 or more, as they are of a shoaling nature. Keep with robust medium-sized community fish, but avoid long-finned tankmates as they can be a little nippy. This species appreciates a good amount of plant cover, although it will eat many fine-leaved and soft-leaved varieties.
An albino form has recently been introduced.
Feeding
Eagerly accepts most aquarium fare offered: flake, green flake, micropellets, frozen foods such as mosquito larvae and brineshrimp etc.
Breeding
A separate softwater breeding tank should be set up with plants and spawning mops or clumps of Java moss. The female should be added to the aquarium first in order for her to adjust to the surroundings before the male is added. The male will chase the ripe female around the tank until spawning commences, and the eggs should fall into the mops/moss. At this point, the parents should be removed. After 24 hours, the eggs will hatch and after a further day, the fry will become free-swimming and can be offered tiny foods such as infusoria.
