From Aqua Guide, the free encyclopedia
Serpae Tetra
Megalamphodus eques
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
- pH
- 5 – 7.5
- Min. tank size
- 72 L
- Lifespan
- 6 years
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- easy
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | Megalamphodus eques |
| Family: | Acestrorhamphidae |
| Origin: | South America (Amazon, Paraguay and Guaporé basins) |
| Care Characteristics | |
| Care Level: | easy |
| Diet: | omnivore |
| Max Size: | 4.00 cm |
| Water Type: | freshwater |
| Temp Group: | tropical |
| Temperament: | semi aggressive |
| Min Group: | 12+ together |
| Varieties: | Several selectively bred strains, and most of them are worth avoiding for reasons specific to this fish. The wild-type blood-red form is the standard and the most robust. Shop labels still say Hyphessobrycon eques: the species moved to Megalamphodus in the 2024 revision of the American tetras, along with the other rosy-tetra-group fish. Metallic, long-finned, balloon and fairy-fin strains are all produced. The metallic form adds an iridescent sheen; the others alter the body or the fins. Two of them are a poor idea in a species with this reputation. Long-finned and fairy-fin serpae carry exactly the trailing finnage their own shoal-mates target, which makes them both a victim and an odd purchase. Balloon serpae are a shortened-spine deformity, bringing the swim bladder and digestive problems that go with a compressed body. Dyed fish appear occasionally under names implying colours no characin carries. Refuse them. The species is also traded as the callistus, jewel or blood tetra, and older labels use Hyphessobrycon callistus and H. serpae — the valid name is H. eques. Several close relatives look similar and are sold interchangeably, including the minor tetra. They shoal together and share the same reputation. |
| Lifespan: | 6 years |
Quick Tips
- Bioload:Low
- Min Tank:72 L
- Substrate:Dark sand/gravel; planted with open swimming space
- Plant Safe:Plant-safe
- Filtration:Moderate
Serpae Tetra (Megalamphodus eques) is a species of fish in the family Acestrorhamphidae. It is native to South America (Amazon, Paraguay and Guaporé basins). The serpae tetra is the small fish most often named when someone's betta comes home shredded. It is a deep-bodied blood-red characin with a black shoulder blotch and black-and-white edged fins, from the Amazon, Paraguay and Guaporé basins, reaching 40 mm standard length. It is cheap, striking and sold everywhere as a community fish. It has a reputation for nipping the fins of tank mates, and the specialist qualification is the useful part: the behaviour tends to be most pronounced when insufficient numbers are purchased. The recommended group is at least twelve. That is a larger number than most shops suggest and it is the single thing that decides whether this fish works. Kept in a proper shoal, with fast short-finned company, it is a fine tetra. Kept as six with a betta or an angelfish, it is the reason those pages carry warnings.
Compatibility
- Temperament
- semi aggressive
- Keep in
- Groups of 12+
- Swims
- middle
- Fin nipper
- Yes
- Delicate fins
- No
Species similar to Serpae Tetra
Matched on family, then category, then water type