Reed tetra - Hyphessobrycon elachys

The reed tetra, also known as Hyphessobrycon elachys, is a small and peaceful freshwater fish native to small rivers and flood lakes in Paraguay and Uruguay. This ornamental fish belongs to the tetra family and to the subfamily of the true tetras. With a size of about 2 cm, it is well suited for smaller aquariums with an edge length of 60 cm or more, provided it is kept in a sufficiently large group of at least 10 animals.

The reed tetra has a silvery scale and is distinguished by a prominent black crescent spot. The males also have very nice elongated fins, while the females are somewhat paler, plumper and larger. The courtship behavior and territorial fights of these dwarfs with long fins are very beautiful to watch.

In the wild, the reed salmon likes to form joint schools with the similar looking sickle-spotted armored catfish. In the aquarium, the reed tetra prefers soft and acidic water and a temperature of about 20 - 25 °C. A good decoration are aquatic plants and floating plants to provide sufficient swimming space and a pleasant light.

As a typical omnivore, the reed tetra needs animal food such as live food, frozen food or freeze-dried FD food in addition to fish food. It is a fairly peaceful tetra and can be kept with dwarf shrimp, especially well reproducing species such as Neocaridina davidi.

Breeding the Reed Tetra in an aquarium is possible, but not easy. It requires a dark aquarium, soft and slightly acidic water with a pH of about 6.5 and a water temperature of about 25 °C. The fish larvae must be reared separately, as they could be eaten by the adults. As first food after hatching very small creatures like rotifers are suitable.

Overall, the reed tetra is an elegant and reserved species that is well suited for harmonious schooling behavior in the aquarium and can also be kept in smaller aquariums due to its small size. To meet the needs of the fish, attention should be paid to soft and acidic water as well as sufficient swimming space and plants in the aquarium.

Our food recommendation: The NatureHolic Main Feed is a professional staple food for all aquarium fish. We supply Hauptfeed in the form of a soft granulate, 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.