Characteristics/origin
Tetras are one of the most popular families of fish to keep in aquariums. Ornate tetras are a big hit with beginners because they are very easy to look after. They can vary greatly in colour. Their base colour can range from light pink to vibrant red. Their dorsal and ventral fins have white tips, making them an eye-catching addition to any aquarium.
Ornate tetras come from South America – from the Amazon Basin, to be more precise. Kept correctly, they can grow to 5 cm in length and live to be 9 years old. The males have longer, more peaked dorsal fins than the females, making it easy to tell them apart. Hyphessobrycon bentosi belong to the characin family.
Aquarium and water
To create an appropriate habitat, the aquarium should have a volume of at least 60 litres. Ornate tetras prefer tropical temperatures of 24°C to 27°C. The water should be slightly acidic to alkaline (pH value: approx. 6.0 – 8.0). A general hardness of 5 – 20° dGH is also recommended, but they can also be kept in slightly softer or harder water. Hyphessobrycon bentosi also like to have a slight current in their tank.
Keeping conditions
Ornate tetras are shoaling fish and should therefore be kept in a larger group. They are very lively fish but are still suitable for community tanks. They mix particularly well with dwarf cichlids and catfish. They tend to prefer the middle to upper regions of the aquarium.
Planting and decoration
Ornate tetras prefer dense vegetation around the edges of the aquarium with plenty of places to withdraw. However, they also need plenty of room to swim around. A darker substrate will set off their colours even better. A few floating plants are also recommended.
Diet
Hyphessobrycon bentosi are omnivores. Their diet should be balanced and varied, which means you can feed them various foods such as TetraMin or Tetra Micro Granules. You can also give them Tetra FreshDelica Bloodworms for a change.