Care
A recently imported community fish, Orange lemon tetras appear to be encountered in the smaller streams and flood waters that provide shelter in the form of waterlogged wood, fringing vegetation and aquatic plant growth breaking up areas of open water.
Like the more familiar Lemon tetra, this is a beautiful, peaceful community species which is best kept in groups of 6 or more. They may not always show their best colours in shop stock tanks, but once settled into the home aquarium, their warm tones will intensify, especially when kept in blackwater set ups. Despite its rarity, this seems to be a hardy and easily-kept community fish suitable for most communities of peaceful fish. As with many deeper-bodied tetras, social behaviour usually features males defending their personal space against rivals and displaying to passing females. Due to it's strong links back to the wild, efforts to provide the soft, acidic conditions of the wild habitat will be appreciated and nitrates should be kept to a minimum.
Despite arriving in the trade as a Bolivian form of the Lemon tetra, it seems that this fish may be the tetra from the Tapajos that was mistaken for wild pulchripinnis back in 1980, with the true homeland of the Lemon being the Xingu region instead. Ichthyologists and those who've bred both species believe that it's distinct enough to warrant separate classification, and it's likely that it will gain a new binomial in future. As an orange lemon, creative common names such as St Clements tetra are waiting to be discovered and we've elected to drop the use of Bolivian in the name as this may well be misleading. Can be distinguished from similar species such as Red cherry tetra (H. sp. 'Muzel') by the colourless tail fin.
Feeding
Will accept flake, micropellets and frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, brineshrimp and daphnia.
Breeding
Easily bred in aquaria but best results are gained by using soft, acidic water. Spawning commences at first light and eggs are normally scattered over fine-leaved plants.
