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Ulrey's Tetra
Hemigrammus ulreyi
📍 South America
Ulrey's Tetra is a slender, silver-bodied tetra distinguished by a bold black lateral stripe running from the snout to the tail, making it an attractive addition to community aquariums. It is a peaceful schooling fish that thrives in well-planted tanks with soft, slightly acidic water mimicking its natural Amazonian habitat. Its hardiness and calm temperament make it a popular choice for beginner and experienced hobbyists alike.
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Care Guide
Diet
Ulrey's 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 daphnia, brine shrimp, and micro bloodworms to enhance coloration and overall health. Feed small amounts two to three times daily, offering only what the fish can consume within two minutes to maintain water quality.
Behavior
Ulrey's Tetras are active, peaceful schooling fish that feel most secure and display their best colors when kept in groups of six or more. They occupy the middle water column and are constantly on the move, creating a lively and dynamic display in the aquarium. They coexist well with other small, non-aggressive species and will not bother plants or invertebrates.
Breeding
Breeding Ulrey's Tetras is moderately achievable in a dedicated breeding tank with soft, slightly acidic water around pH 6.0-6.5 and dim lighting. They are egg scatterers that will broadcast adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop; adults must be removed promptly after spawning to prevent egg predation. Fry are tiny and require infusoria or commercial fry food initially before graduating to baby brine shrimp.
Tank Mates
Similar size, temperament, and water requirements make them ideal tankmates
Peaceful schooling fish with overlapping water parameter needs
Small, peaceful bottom dweller that won't compete or harass tetras
Calm and small enough to coexist peacefully with Ulrey's Tetras
Tiny, peaceful tetra with identical water requirements
Peaceful algae eater that occupies a different niche and shares soft water preferences
Common Diseases
Ich (White Spot Disease)
Small white salt-like spots on body and fins, flashing against surfaces, lethargy, loss of appetite
Raise temperature gradually to 28-30°C, treat with aquarium-safe ich medication containing malachite green or formalin; perform regular water changes
Fin Rot
Frayed, disintegrating, or discolored fin edges, sometimes with reddish inflammation at the base
Improve water quality with frequent water changes, treat with antibacterial medication such as kanamycin or erythromycin; remove any aggressive tankmates
Velvet (Oodinium)
Fine gold or rust-colored dust on skin, rapid gill movement, flashing, lethargy
Dim tank lighting, treat with copper-based medication or acriflavine; raise temperature slightly and perform water changes
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 pristine water quality, and euthanize severely affected individuals to protect the rest of the school
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore – accepts flake food, micro pellets, frozen/live daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodworms
- lifespan
- 3-5 years
- max size
- 4.5 cm (1.8 in)
- tank size
- 15 gallons minimum
- temperament
- peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0-7.2
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 2-12 dGH
- temperature
- 73–82°F (23–28°C)