Colombian Tetra Care Guide - Tank Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Colombian Tetra is a lively, deep-bodied characin with a silvery-blue to violet sheen and a striking reddish-orange coloration through the fins, especially the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. The intensity of its colour can vary with age, mood, diet and surroundings.

This active species spends most of its time in the middle and upper areas of the aquarium. In a proper group it forms a constantly moving shoal, displaying occasional fin-flaring and mild chasing without usually causing serious injury to companions.

In the wild, Colombian Tetras inhabit flowing streams and smaller tributaries bordered by dense vegetation. The water may be clear or lightly stained with tannins, while leaf litter, submerged branches and shaded banks provide cover.

Although it is more robust and assertive than many delicate small tetras, the Colombian Tetra is generally a peaceful community fish when kept in an appropriately sized group. Its bold personality and vivid fins make it an attractive choice for a well-planted South American aquarium.

Colombian Tetras are native to northwestern Colombia in South America, where they occur in the Río Acandí drainage and associated streams. Their natural waters are typically warm, soft to moderately hard and often shaded by surrounding vegetation.

A group of Colombian Tetras should have at least a 75-litre aquarium, with a footprint of around 80 cm by 30 cm or larger to provide room for sustained swimming. Use open swimming space alongside dense planting around the sides and rear, with driftwood, roots and subdued lighting creating shaded areas. A dark fine-grained sand or smooth gravel substrate complements their colours, while gentle to moderate water movement and a secure cover are beneficial.

Up to about 7.5 cm (3 inches) in total length. Males are usually slimmer and may be slightly smaller, while females are deeper-bodied and fuller when carrying eggs.

Colombian Tetras are omnivores and thrive on a varied diet of quality small flakes, micro-pellets and granules supplemented with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and bloodworms. Small portions offered once or twice daily are ideal, with enough food consumed promptly to prevent waste. Variety helps maintain their colour, vitality and condition.

Colombian Tetras are suitable for peaceful community aquariums and can be kept with larger rasboras, other medium-sized tetras, peaceful barbs, Corydoras, small peaceful catfish, pencilfish and non-aggressive dwarf cichlids. Avoid housing them with very timid, slow-feeding species that may be outcompeted, as well as fin-nipping fish, large predatory fish and aggressive cichlids. Keeping a full shoal helps spread their occasional chasing among themselves.

Colombian Tetras are egg-scattering free spawners. Condition a group with plenty of live or frozen foods, then place selected adults in a separate, dimly lit breeding tank with soft, slightly acidic water and fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. The eggs are scattered among the vegetation, and the adults should be removed after spawning because they may eat the eggs. Hatching usually occurs within roughly 24 to 36 hours, with the fry becoming free-swimming a few days later and accepting infusoria or other very small foods.

Males are generally more slender, with a more intensely coloured and sometimes more extended dorsal fin. Females have a rounder, deeper body, particularly when mature and carrying eggs, and are often slightly larger.