From Aqua Guide, the free encyclopedia
Red Phantom Tetra
Megalamphodus sweglesi
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
- pH
- 4.5 – 7.5
- Min. tank size
- 72 L
- Lifespan
- 5 years
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- moderate
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | Megalamphodus sweglesi |
| Family: | Acestrorhamphidae |
| Origin: | South America (Orinoco basin, Colombia and Venezuela) |
| Care Characteristics | |
| Care Level: | moderate |
| Diet: | omnivore |
| Max Size: | 3.50 cm |
| Water Type: | freshwater |
| Temp Group: | tropical |
| Temperament: | peaceful |
| Min Group: | 8+ together |
| Varieties: | At least two colour forms exist in the trade. The intensely red form retains its colouration in captivity, which may reflect the conditions at the wild collection locality, while other stock is a paler rose. Since both are sold under the same name, buying from a supplier whose fish you have seen coloured up is worth doing. A long-finned strain is produced commercially, with exaggerated dorsal and anal fins on both sexes. The species was described in Megalamphodus, spent decades folded into Hyphessobrycon, and was returned to Megalamphodus by a 2024 revision — so both names circulate, and most shop labels still say Hyphessobrycon. The obvious relative is the black phantom tetra, H. megalopterus, which is frequently kept alongside it and has the reversed sexual colour pattern. Elsewhere in the genus, the rosy tetra, bleeding heart tetra and serpae tetra belong to the same broad group of deep-bodied South American characins, and all mix happily — though the serpae is the one with a nipping reputation. |
| Lifespan: | 5 years |
Quick Tips
- Bioload:Low
- Min Tank:72 L
- Substrate:Dark sand; planted with botanicals/tannins
- Plant Safe:Plant-safe
- Filtration:Moderate
Red Phantom Tetra (Megalamphodus sweglesi) is a species of fish in the family Acestrorhamphidae. It is native to South America (Orinoco basin, Colombia and Venezuela). The red phantom tetra is a translucent rose-red fish with a dark shoulder spot, and it is one of the better community characins — very peaceful, described by specialists as an ideal resident of the well-researched community aquarium. It reaches 35 mm standard length and is smaller than its reputation suggests. Two things distinguish it from the black phantom it is usually sold beside. It runs cooler, at 20 to 28 °C (68–82 °F), and it is the more colourful of the two, with males carrying extended dorsal and anal fins over a glowing red body. At least two colour forms exist. The intensely red form retains its colouration in captivity, which may reflect the conditions at the wild collection locality — so where your fish came from matters as much as how you keep it.
Compatibility
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Keep in
- Groups of 8+
- Swims
- middle
- Fin nipper
- No
- Delicate fins
- No
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