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Kitty Tetra
Hyphessobrycon heliacus
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Characidae
📍 Brazil
The kitty tetra is a relatively new species to the aquarium trade with a beautiful rosy-pink body and striking red and black finnage. It is closely related to the rosy tetra and shares its peaceful temperament. A charming choice for soft-water planted community tanks, where its delicate colouration glows under warm lighting.
Care Guide
Diet
Kitty tetras are omnivores that thrive on a varied diet of high-quality small flake foods and micro pellets as staples. Supplement 2-3 times weekly with frozen foods such as daphnia, micro bloodworms, or brine shrimp to enhance coloration and promote optimal health. Feed small amounts once daily, offering only what they can consume in 2-3 minutes.
Behavior
Kitty tetras are peaceful, active schooling fish that display their best colors and behavior when kept in groups of 8 or more. They occupy the mid-water column and are constantly in motion, darting playfully through planted areas and open spaces. They are non-aggressive toward other peaceful community fish and show no fin-nipping tendencies, making them excellent for planted tanks.
Breeding
Breeding kitty tetras in captivity is possible but challenging and rarely achieved by hobbyists. They require soft, acidic water (pH 5.5–6.5), dense vegetation or spawning mops, and conditioning with live foods before spawning. Eggs hatch in 24–36 hours, and fry are extremely small; raising them requires infusoria or liquid fry food for the first week.
Tank Mates
Peaceful bottom-dweller that shares soft-water preferences and won't compete with mid-water tetras
Similar size, temperament, and water requirements; compatible schooling companion
Classic tetra pairing with matching peaceful nature and soft-water habitat needs
Peaceful invertebrate that thrives in soft-water planted tanks; tetras generally ignore them
Foreground plant that provides shelter and grazing areas without competing for space
Peaceful dwarf cichlid with similar water parameters; may occasionally chase but rarely harm small tetras
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, rubbing against objects
Raise temperature gradually to 28–29°C, perform daily 25% water changes, and treat with ich medication or salt (1 tsp per 5 gallons) for 7–10 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fin edges, discoloration at fin margins, lethargy
Improve water quality with frequent changes, remove decaying matter, and treat with antibacterial medication if severe
Neon Tetra Disease
Loss of coloration, spinal curvature, erratic swimming, lethargy
No cure exists; isolate affected fish to prevent spread, maintain excellent water quality, and euthanize if condition worsens
Columnaris (Flexibacter columnaris)
White or grayish film on body, mouth rot, fin deterioration, loss of appetite
Perform daily 50% water changes, improve aeration, treat with antibacterial medication, and maintain temperature at 25–26°C
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore – small flake, micro pellets, frozen daphnia
- schooling
- 8+ recommended
- tank size
- 15 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Peaceful schooling fish
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0–7.5
- hardness
- 3–15 dGH
- temperature
- 73–82°F (23–28°C)