Family: Characidae
Distribution: The upper Paraná River basin in South America is the home of Hyphessobrycon coelestinus.
PH: 6.0 – 7.5 pH
Temperature: 23 – 28°C (73 – 82°F)
Hardness: 2 – 15 dH
Description: Hyphessobrycon coelestinus 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: A balanced omnivorous diet of flake food and occasional live and frozen foods will ensure a thriving Hyphessobrycon coelestinus.
Breeding: Due to the lack of available information regarding the specifics of Hyphessobrycon coelestinus, 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 coelestinus spawn into the leaves of the plants and should be removed immediately after the eggs have been released. 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 coelestinus 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, Corydoras Catfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami (such as the Blue Gourami and Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danio and Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.
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