No photo yet
Sign in to submit the first photo
Flag Tetra
Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus
📍 South America
The Flag Tetra is a small, peaceful schooling fish native to South America, known for its distinctive black stripe running through its body and red coloration on its fins. These active little tetras are excellent for community aquariums and thrive best when kept in groups. They are hardy and relatively easy to care for, making them suitable for both beginner and experienced aquarists.
Care Guide
Diet
Flag Tetras are omnivorous and should be fed a varied diet of high-quality flake food, micro pellets, and small live or frozen foods such as daphnia and brine shrimp. Feed small amounts 2-3 times daily, only what they can consume in a few minutes. Occasional vegetable matter like blanched spinach can supplement their diet.
Behavior
Flag Tetras are active, social fish that display schooling behavior and should always be kept in groups of at least 6 individuals. They are peaceful and non-aggressive, spending most of their time in the middle water column exploring and foraging. They are relatively hardy and adapt well to established community tanks with stable water conditions.
Breeding
Flag Tetras are egg scatterers and moderately difficult to breed in captivity. Breeding requires soft, acidic water (pH 5.5-6.5), slightly elevated temperatures around 26-28°C, and dense vegetation or spawning mops for egg placement. Separate breeding tanks with minimal current and low lighting increase success rates.
Tank Mates
Similar size and peaceful temperament, excellent schooling companions
Compatible size and peaceful nature, thrive in similar water conditions
Peaceful bottom dweller that helps control algae without competing for food
Peaceful bottom feeder that occupies different water zone
Peaceful mid-water dweller with compatible temperament
Similar size and schooling behavior, compatible water parameters
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, rubbing against objects, lethargy
Increase water temperature to 28-30°C, use ich medication containing malachite green or formalin, perform daily water changes, ensure good water quality
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, fin loss
Improve water quality with frequent water changes, remove decaying matter, use antibacterial medication if severe, ensure adequate filtration
Neon Tetra Disease
Loss of coloration, spinal curvature, lethargy, loss of appetite, erratic swimming
No cure available; isolate affected fish to prevent spread, maintain pristine water conditions, euthanize severely affected individuals
Columnaris (Flexibacter columnaris)
Whitish film on body, mouth rot, fin deterioration, lethargy, loss of appetite
Improve water quality and temperature, use antibacterial medications containing oxytetracycline, increase aeration, perform frequent water changes
Community Photos
0 photosPhotos are added when members log a tank with this species and upload a photo in their tank journal. Add your own tank to contribute.
No photos yet — add a tank with Flag Tetra to be the first!
Sign in to vote.
Tips from the community 💡
0 tipsReal experiences, care advice, and keeper notes. Finn learns from these too.
Sign in to share your experience.
No community tips yet — be the first to share your knowledge!
Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore - small insects, crustaceans, and plant matter
- lifespan
- 3-5 years
- max size
- 4 cm (1.5 in)
- tank size
- 10 gallons minimum
- temperament
- peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 5.5-7.0
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 2-8 dGH
- temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)