Loreto Tetra

Hyphessobrycon loretoensis

Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Characiformes›Characidae

📍 Río Nanay, Peru

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Delicate tetra with a golden body and black lateral stripe that glows under low lighting. Ideal for blackwater setups.

Size1.2"

Min Tank10g

School6+

peaceful

Zonemid

Care Guide

Diet

Loreto Tetras are omnivorous and thrive on a varied diet of high-quality flake foods, micro pellets, and small frozen foods like brine shrimp and daphnia. Feed small portions once daily, offering only what they can consume in 2-3 minutes. Occasional vegetable matter such as blanched spinach supports digestive health.

Behavior

These delicate tetras are peaceful schooling fish that display their best coloration and behavior when kept in groups of at least 6 individuals. They are active mid-water swimmers that prefer dimly lit environments where their golden bodies and lateral stripe shimmer beautifully. They are non-aggressive and do well in planted tanks with gentle water flow.

Breeding

Breeding Loreto Tetras in captivity is difficult and rarely achieved in home aquariums. They require very soft, acidic water (pH 5.0-6.0), dense vegetation for egg scattering, and careful conditioning of breeding pairs with live foods. Fry are extremely small and require infusoria or liquid fry food for initial nutrition.

Tank Mates

Otocinclus

Similar size and peaceful temperament; both prefer soft, acidic water conditions

excellent

Red Cherry Shrimp

Small invertebrates that thrive in soft water; minimal predation risk with tetras

good

Neon Tetra

Similar size, schooling behavior, and water requirements; compatible blackwater setup

excellent

Rummy Nose Tetra

Peaceful schooling tetra with identical habitat needs and compatible temperament

excellent

Common Diseases

Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)

Symptoms

White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, rubbing against objects

Treatment

Raise temperature to 28-30°C gradually, perform daily 25% water changes, use aquarium salt (1 tsp per 5 gallons) or ich-specific medication; treat for 7-10 days

Fin Rot

Symptoms

Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, lethargy

Treatment

Improve water quality with frequent partial water changes, maintain optimal temperature, use antibacterial medication if severe; remove any sharp tank decorations

Neon Tetra Disease

Symptoms

Loss of coloration, spinal curvature, erratic swimming, muscle degeneration

Treatment

No cure exists; isolate affected fish to prevent spread, maintain pristine water conditions, euthanize severely affected individuals to prevent transmission

Bacterial Infection

Symptoms

Open sores, cloudy eyes, torn fins, loss of appetite, behavioral changes

Treatment

Perform 50% water change immediately, treat with broad-spectrum antibiotic medication, maintain water temperature at 26°C, repeat treatment as directed on medication