Buenos Aires Tetra

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 4"
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons   • Water Conditions: 64-82° F, KH 12-30, pH 7.0-8.3
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: South America   • Family: Characidae
• Species: Tetras   • Aquarium Type: Community

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The Buenos Aires Tetra is a popular species of Tetra fish that have become quite popular within the aquarium hobby in recent years. They have an attractive silver iridescent body with bright red anal and tail fins. Buenos Aires Tetra are sought after both for their appearance and their good aquarium personality, as they can co-exist with pretty much any tropical community fish without problems.

Their combination of ease of care, attractive appearance, peaceful personality, active swimming nature and medium size make the Buenos Aires Tetra the perfect addition to most any freshwater tropical community or tropical planted community aquarium.

Buenos Aires Tetras are somewhat more aggressive than some of the smaller Tetra species, but are still generally quite peaceful towards all but the smallest tank mates. They are known to eat some species of aquatic plants, but should not pose too much of a threat to a larger established and thriving planted aquarium. The Buenos Aires Tetra is not a good choice for a very small or nano planted aquarium (less than 30 gallons), as their feeding on the plant leaves will most likely put too much pressure in such a small environment.

In the wild they are found living together in schools which provide them safety and a social structure. It is best to keep a small group of Buenos Aires Tetras, which will give them a sense of security and limit their picking or nipping at smaller less boisterous species. An ideal aquarium environment for the (Hemigrammus caudovittatus) would include plenty of plants, driftwood, rocky caves and open swimming areas. They do not have specific lighting or water movement requirements, but will appreciate moderate water flow which will help to replicate their native habitat.

Feed Buenos Aires Tetra a varied diet of quality commercial foods 2 or 3 times per day the amount of food they will consume within a few minutes. They are not picky eaters and will readily accept a wide variety of plant and animal based foods.

They should readily accept quality flake, freeze-dried and small pellet foods, tubifex worms, blood worms, frozen foods, algae or plant based flakes and crisps, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp and a variety of other similar food items.