Lemon Tetra: A great schooling fish for the planted aquarium!
The lemon tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) is a small freshwater fish that can create a significant visual impact in your tank. First introduced to the pet trade in 1930, this brightly colored and active species has become one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish among enthusiasts.
The lemon Tetra is a very good community fish but is happiest in a school of 6 or more of its own kind. The Lemon Tetra likes a planted aquarium balanced with plenty of open space to swim around with it’s buddies. They are most comfortable in an aquarium with floating plants as well as some open spaces to swim in.
This is a very pretty fish, but the Lemon Tetra is most attractive if it is well maintained and in a heavily planted tank. It will show its best colouring with a proper diet which can be provided with a colour enhancing food. There is now a colour morph which has been developed that is an albino form, but the lemon form is still preferred amongst fishkeepers.
Habitat
Lemon tetras are native to South America and inhabit parts of the Amazon River. Lemon Tetras typically live in narrow streams around the Tapajós river basin, Located primarily within Brazil’s borders.
Appearance
Meet the big, deep-bodied cousin of your favorite fish.
As we know, lemon tetras are some of the most natured and delightful creatures around. Their coloring is just as striking as their personality! Though they resemble many other types of tetras in body shape and coloration – lemons tend to be deeper bodied with a unique lateral compression – don’t let appearances fool you!
The dorsal and anal fins are where the fish’s vibrancy is most noticeable! The lemon tetra has a triangular-shaped, semi-transparent dorsal fin. Splashes of yellow and black cover this fin while adding some color to it.
The back half of each type isn’t left out either–lemon tetras have an eye-catching tailfin made up.
Lifespan
When the conditions are just right, lemon tetras can live for ten years or more. Without careful monitoring and care from their owner, though, they may die before even reaching adolescence.
Lemon tetra fish typically grow to around 5cm in size over 5-7 years if given proper sustenance and shelter, but that doesn’t mean all good things come with time! These little guys will thrive when living in tanks larger than 3 litres per fish because they can be sensitive little buggers who don’t take well to overcrowded spaces.
When it comes down to water quality, these critters also need some TLC, so ensure your filter is strong enough not to clog up constantly after being exposed to long periods.
Lemon Tetra Care
Lemon tetra care is a process that we can wholeheartedly recommend to beginners. This fish species thrives in captivity and is hardy enough to adapt to different conditions quickly, making them one of the best aquarium inhabitants for new hobbyists or seasoned aquarists looking for an easygoing pet!
The lemon tetras have been found by many as some of the easiest creatures when it comes to aquatic life at home because they’re able to thrive under most circumstances without any trouble whatsoever.
Let’s not forget just how stunningly beautiful these guys are; you’ll be catching friends’ eyes from other rooms every time your tank lights up, thanks in part due to their shining colors – A definite conversation starter even if there isn’t anything else going on!
Tank Size
Lemon tetras are small fish, so you’ll only need a modest-sized tank.
The first thing to consider is the size of your tank. As a small species, lemon tetras don’t require massive tanks as other large-sized fishes do – their needs can be met in smaller quarters as long as there’s adequate water flow and filtration systems for them to thrive! As said before they can be sensitive to over-crowding.
Water Parameters
One way to keep your lemon tetra healthy is by mimicking its natural environment. Fortunately, this shouldn’t be a problem because they have been bred in captivity for years and don’t need much space or special care.
The best thing you can do to take good care of your lemon tetras (aside from giving them the proper food) is mimic their natural habitat as closely as possible – luckily, that’s easy enough! They were originally bred in captivity, so they are pretty used to living inside tanks with minimal environmental change needed on your part.
RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:
Water Temperatures : 20° – 28° C
pH: 5.0 – 7.5 (more acidic water is preferred)
dH: 2 – 25, but lose colour at higher levels
Minimum tank size: 3 litres per fish.
Breeding
Breeding lemon tetras is an interesting process. They are eager to mate in the right conditions and can lay a lot of eggs at once! Lemon tetras are community breeders, so that you may end up with hundreds or thousand’s of fry.
Having a separate tank for breeding and young, fine-leaf plants can offer some protection from hungry adults.
Separate your males and females a week before you want them to breed so that they can get ready. Condition them with live foods, such as worms or bloodworms, in the days leading up to it. The temperature should be around 27 degrees Celsius when adding both to the breeding tank breeding process.
Food & Diet
You should be able to find a variety of foods that your lemon tetras will love! These fish are omnivores and can eat anything you provide. They’ll go for any food they like, whether it’s protein-rich or not.
The best way to keep your fish’s coloration is by providing them with a diverse diet. Dry food isn’t enough, so make sure you offer occasional live or frozen treats for your aquatic pet! One of the most popular choices among aquarium owners is brine shrimp and daphnia snacks that come in freeze-dried form.
While it may seem strange at first, some people even feed their pets mosquito larvae on occasion–the reason being they contain plenty of fatty acids which help maintain good fishy health.
Lemon Tetra Tank Mates
Lemon tetras are the perfect size for a community tank because they willingly share their space with other fish. The only issue comes when you introduce larger, aggressive species that could easily eat them up! If you want to keep a multi-species environment, go for similarly sized friends who have peaceful temperaments so everyone can get along.
You can try tank mates in your community aquarium such as:
- A wide range of tetra species such as neon tetras
- Cory catfish
- Apistogramma
- Smaller types of rasboras
- Otocinclus
- Small danios
