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Featherfin Tetra
Hemigrammus unilineatus
📍 South America
The Featherfin Tetra (Hemigrammus unilineatus) is a lively, attractive schooling fish named for its distinctive elongated dorsal fin rays that give it a feathery appearance. It displays a subtle iridescent sheen along its body with a dark lateral stripe, making it a charming addition to community aquariums. Hardy and adaptable, it is an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate hobbyists alike.
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Care Guide
Diet
Featherfin Tetras are omnivores that readily accept high-quality flake foods and micro pellets as a staple diet. Supplement regularly with frozen or live foods such as bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp to enhance coloration and vitality. Feed small amounts two to three times daily, offering only what they can consume within two minutes.
Behavior
Featherfin Tetras are active, peaceful schooling fish that thrive in groups of six or more, displaying their best colors and most natural behaviors when kept in a proper school. They occupy the middle water column and are generally compatible with a wide range of similarly sized, non-aggressive tankmates. In smaller groups they may become slightly skittish, so larger schools are recommended for a more confident and visually impressive display.
Breeding
Breeding Featherfin Tetras is moderately achievable in a dedicated breeding tank with soft, slightly acidic water around pH 6.0-6.5 and temperatures near 26-27 C (79-81 F). They are egg scatterers and will broadcast adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop; parents should be removed after spawning as they will consume the eggs. Fry are tiny and require infusoria or commercial fry food initially before graduating to baby brine shrimp.
Tank Mates
Similar size and peaceful temperament; both thrive in soft, slightly acidic water
Peaceful schooling tetra with compatible water requirements
Peaceful mid-water schooler with overlapping water parameter needs
Peaceful bottom dweller that won't compete for space with mid-water tetras
Gentle, small gourami that coexists peacefully with tetras
Peaceful algae eater that occupies a different niche and shares compatible water parameters
Common Diseases
Ich (White Spot Disease)
Small white spots resembling grains of salt on body and fins, flashing, lethargy, loss of appetite
Raise temperature gradually to 28-30 C, treat with ich medication containing malachite green or formalin; maintain good water quality
Fin Rot
Fraying, discoloration, or deterioration of fins; may progress to the body if untreated
Improve water quality with frequent water changes; treat with antibacterial medication such as kanaplex or maracyn
Velvet (Oodinium)
Fine gold or rust-colored dust on skin, clamped fins, rapid gill movement, flashing against surfaces
Dim lighting, treat with copper-based medication or formalin; quarantine affected fish and raise temperature slightly
Neon Tetra Disease (Pleistophora)
Loss of color, white or pale patches on body, curved spine, difficulty swimming, wasting
No reliable cure; isolate affected fish immediately to prevent spread; maintain excellent water quality to reduce stress in remaining fish
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore – accepts flake food, micro pellets, frozen/live foods such as daphnia and bloodworms
- lifespan
- 3-5 years
- max size
- 5 cm (2 in)
- tank size
- 20 gallons minimum
- temperament
- peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0-7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 2-15 dGH
- temperature
- 72–82°F (22–28°C)