Family: Characidae
Distribution: Hyphessobrycon balbus is endemic to the upper Parana River basin in South America.
PH: 5.5 – 6.0 pH
Temperature: 22 – 23°C (73 – 74°F)
Hardness: 5 – 8 dH
Description: This fish can be expected to reach a length of 6cm within the tank. As it is a rarity in the hobby, there is limited information available. The Hyphessobrycon species is generally peaceful and active, thrives in shoals of at least 6, and is an excellent addition to any community tank.
Diet: Feed your Hyphessobrycon balbus an omnivorous diet that is mostly flake with occasion live and frozen food treats.
Breeding: Due to the lack of available information regarding the specifics of Hyphessobrycon balbus, the general method of breeding used for the Hyphessobrycon species has been included.
Separate a pair of one year olds into two conditioning tanks. They should be fed with insect larvae and Drosophila for two-to-three weeks, when they can then be introduced into a breeding tank. For the smaller species, a 38L tank is sufficient size.
The breeding tank should have a temperature of 24 – 26°C (75 – 79°F), a pH of 5.5 – 6.5, and dH of 2 – 4. It must be kept consistently clean and in the dark. It does not require any substrate, simply some fine-leaved plants and soft filtration (such as a foam or sponge).
The pair should spawn within three days – if not, repeat the process. Hypessobrycon balbus spawn into the leaves of the plants and should be removed immediately after the eggs (up to 300) are laid. The eggs will hatch within 2 days, and the fry will be free-swimming a few days after that. The fry can be fed on micro-organisms and baby Brine Shrimp for the first ten days, and then on crushed flake foods. The water should be partially changed weekly.
Comments: Hyphessobrycon balbus is rare in the hobby and therefore there is very little information available. For this reason, information pertaining to the Hyphessobrycon species in general has been used.
Due to the peacefulness of the Hyphessobrycon species, they are good fish for beginners (although you have to be enthusiastic to watch the breeding closely).
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species: They should live happily with other Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They also should be good tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, CorydorasCatfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami(such as the Blue Gouramiand Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.
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