Red cherry tetra DNZ - Hyphessobrycon sp. Muzel Red

The Red Muzel Tetra, also known as Muzel Tetra or Hyphessobrycon spec. "Muzel Red Cherry", is a peaceful tetra from Brazil that reaches a maximum size of about 4 cm. This species is comparatively rarely available and belongs to the newer tetra species from Brazil. The animals originate from the Mato Grosso region in South America, and there is currently no accurate information about their biotope. The freshly imported fish are orange in color, but with proper lighting in the aquarium, the color dress develops into an intense red.

There are similar looking species from the lower Rio Tapajos called Hyphessobrycon spec. "Orange Tapajos" or Hyphessobrycon spec. "Bolivia-Orange", but they do not have the intense red coloration. It is suspected that the commercially available animals are already offspring from a breeding facility in Brazil, as they are uniform in size and come without the fin lesions typical of wild-caught fish.

To keep Red Muzel Tetras species-appropriate, they should be kept in groups and have an aquarium with at least 60 cm length. The aquarium should be lushly planted and have enough structure in the form of wood or rocks. It is recommended not to use too bright lighting, as the animals look nicer and color better in diffused light. The ideal keeping temperatures are between 20 and 25 °C, and the water should be soft to medium hard, with a pH of 6.4 to 7.2.

Red Muzel Tetras feed mainly on live foods such as white mosquito larvae, artemia and water fleas in their natural environment. Frozen food in the form of black mosquito larvae and artemia is also well accepted. After a certain acclimation period they will also eat high quality granulated food.

Our food recommendation: The NatureHolic main feed is a professional staple food for all aquarium fish. We supply Hauptfeed in the form of soft granules, which, thanks to its grain size of half a millimeter, can be easily absorbed by small to medium-sized fish. The soft consistency resembles the texture of insect larvae in nature and protects the fish mouth from micro-injuries.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend when keeping fish the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.