Family: Characidae
Distribution: West-Guyana is where the Dawn Tetra makes its home.
PH: 6.0 – 7.5 pH
Temperature: 24 – 28°C (75 – 82°F)
Hardness: 15 gdH
Description: One of the smallest Tetras, Hyphessobrycon eos will only reach 2cm in the tank. Despite this, they have a bright metallic sheen that makes them extremely eye-catching. With a silver base colouration, they flash yellow or copper when in light. This gives them a similar appearance to the Yellow Tetra (Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus), except that the Dawn Tetra is a warmer yellow. When stressed (especially when transporting from the sale point to your home) they tend to become pale.
The only way to tell sexual dimorphism is in maturity, when the females become more rotund when ready to breed.
Keep your Hyphessobrycon eos is groups of 6 or more. They are suitable for community tanks, as they are peaceful and non-aggressive.
Diet: Be sure to chop up or crush all foods as they have such tiny mouths. A flake-and-pellet staple diet is suitable, with some frozen or live foods to encourage the best colouration. They are remarkably easy to feed as they will accept almost anything you give them.
Breeding: It is recommended that you follow a similar breeding pattern to that of Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus. Set up a breeding tank (38L will be sufficient) complete with fine-leaf plants. The parents will eat the eggs, so either remove them immediately after spawning or utilise a type of grid on the bottom so the eggs are unreachable. The fry will hatch in a day and can be fed on baby brine, egg yolk or very fine flakes.
However, if this fails, try conditioning the parents before introducing them to one another in the breeding tank.
Comments: The Dawn Tetra likes dense plantation on the back and along the sides, with a large swimming area in the centre. Use floating plants to diffuse the light. This fish will nibble of fine-leaved plants, so avoid using them (or be prepared to replace them constantly). They will also appreciate a tank that mimics their natural environment, so tan the water with dead leaves (replace them before they rot), peat-filter the water, and add a slow to moderate current. A dark substrate will make the colours of your Hyphessobrycon eos pop.
This fish is easy to keep, feed and breed, and therefore is suitable for an aquarist of any experience.
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.
Originally posted 2010-04-21 02:12:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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