Family: Characidae
Distribution: The Kitty Tetra can be located in the Xingu River system of Brazil. Unlike most of their relatives, Hyphessobrycon heliacus prefers mud to a sandy substrate and dense vegetation.
PH: 6.4 – 7.0 pH
Temperature: 23 – 27 °C (73 – 81 °F)
Hardness: 1 – 13 dH
Description: With a soft golden hue, the Kitty Tetra sports a large spot that covers half the fins and the base. Chevron-shaped stripes are displayed transversely by both genders along their midsection. The males also exhibit orange and red colours on the rear section of their bodies and on their fins; with elongated anal and pelvic fins. The males are larger than their female counterparts. The eyes of Hyphessobrycon heliacus are somewhat unique, in that there is an almost stripe-shaped area of red at the top (rather than a smudge right across) and a blue tinge to the rest.
They are a peaceful variety of Hyphessobrycon, and are at the smaller end of the scale (2-3cm when mature). They are top-dwellers, which is somewhat unusual. If you want to keep these fish at their optimum, ensure you keep a shoal of at least six Hyphessobrycon heliacus.
Diet: The Kitty Tetra is an easy fish to feed as it is relatively unfussy. Aquarists can feed their Hyphessobrycon heliacus on a diet that is primarily flakes or pellets with occasional treats of live foods (brine shrimp, blood worms, insect larvae, daphnia, and so on). Whilst this fish is peaceful, it is a top-dweller and often Hyphessobrycon species can be greedy. Ensure there is some quick-sinking food for peaceful species on other levels.
Breeding: Transfer a pair of Hyphessobrycon heliacus to a breeding tank that includes java moss or spawning mops. Once the parents-to-be have spawned, remove them from the tank before they consume the eggs.
The eggs begin to hatch after 24 hours and the fry a swimming a few days later. Until they are big enough to eat baby brine, feed the fry on Infusoria.
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Recommended Compatible Species: House your Kitty Tetra with fish of a similar size and temperament. Due to the length of their fins, do not include fin-nippers. 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 02:44:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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