Family: Characidae
Distribution: The Upper Tapajós River basin in Brazil (South America) houses an off-shoot of water called the Doze de Outubro River; this is where Hyphessobrycon melanostichos can be located. It prefers clear, shallow waters with sandy substrates broken up with some vegetation and small rocks.
PH: 6.0 – 7.5 pH
Temperature: 22 – 28 °C (72 – 82 °F)
Hardness: 2 – 15 dH
Description: Hyphessobrycon melanostichos will grow to 3.5 – 4cm in the tank. The species is generally peaceful and active. It will thrive when kept in schools no less than six. The Hyphessobrycon species make perfect additions to any community or species-specific tanks.
As they are unusual in the hobby, there is limited information available regarding social behaviours, colouration and sexual dimorphism.
Diet: A diet that is balanced with both flakes and live foods is suitable for your Hyphessobrycon melanostichos. Use flakes or pellets as their staple and treat them with occasion live foods.
Breeding: As this fish is uncommon in the hobby, there are currently no breeding reports (successful or otherwise) available. If you want to try your hand at it, it is recommended you use the common Hyphessobrycon method.
Begin by place a year old male and a year old female in separate conditioning tanks. Feed them on live food (blood worms and the like) for three weeks before you transport them into a breeding tank. Ensure the tank has fine-leaved plants, dim lighting, soft filtration and a warm temperature (26°C). It may take up to three days for the pair to spawn. If nothing has happened, repeat the conditioning process.
Remove the parents-to-be from the tank once eggs appear on the leaves, before they start to devour them. The roe will begin to hatch after 24 hours and once the fry are free swimming try feeding them baby brine, Infusoria or crushed flake.
As it is unknown whether the eggs of the Hyphessobrycon melanostichos are light-sensitive or not, you should err on the side of caution and keep them in as much dark as possible.
Comments: Hyphessobrycon melanostichos is rare in the hobby and therefore there is limited information available. Subsequently, information pertaining to the Hyphessobrycon species in general has been included.
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. Do not put them in with larger, more aggressive species.
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