Lemon tetra - Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Common name: Lemon tetra

Family: Characidae

Usual size in fish tanks: 4 - 5 cm (1.57 - 1.97 inch)

014

Recommended pH range for the species: 6 - 7.5

Recommended water hardness (dGH): 4 - 18°N (71.43 - 321.43ppm)

0°C 32°F30°C 86°F

Recommended temperature: 22 - 28 °C (71.6 - 82.4°F)

The way how these fish reproduce: Spawning

Where the species comes from: South America

Temperament to its own species: peaceful

Temperament toward other fish species: peaceful

Usual place in the tank: Middle levels

Food

Lemon Tetras are omnivorous and will accept a wide variety of foods such as algae, worms, crustaceans and an array of store bought foods.

Sexing

The only way to tell males from females is to examine the black line running along their anal fins. The female will have a very fine black line while the males will have a very thick black line. The black line on the alpha male’s anal fin might come close to covering the whole anal fin. This method of sexing only works on mature specimens because this feature is not yet formed on juveniles.

Breeding

The female can lay up to 300 eggs in one spawning. The eggs will hatch within 72 hours and the fry will take another 48 hours to absorb their yolk sacs.

Lifespan

Lemon tetra has the potential to live up to 5 years.

Origin

The Lemon Tetra can be found throughout South America in rivers such as the Tapajos and the Amazon where the waters always remain very warm.

Description

In the wild, there are usually thousands of pairs spawning at the same time and within a close proximity to one another. In order to sabotage one another’s spawning success, each pair will rush over and eat their neighbor’s eggs; it sort of becomes a competition. When breeding Lemon Tetras in captivity the only eggs to eat are usually their own so be sure to protect them by using egg traps.

Pictures

Bought by aqua-fish.net from jjphoto.dk.