Ornate tetra

The Ornate Tetra (Hyphessobrycon bentosi) is an elegant characin from the sluggish tributaries, forest lakes, and side channels of the lower Amazon basin in Brazil. First described in 1908 from specimens collected near Óbidos, Pará, it inhabits soft, poorly-buffered waters stained brown by tannins and organic acids from decomposing plant material. Reaching a standard length of 40–45 mm, it displays a translucent silvery body with a distinctive dark dorsal-fin marking, red-tipped fins, and a subtle rosy sheen that becomes more pronounced in well-maintained specimens, embodying the classic tetra form and temperament that has made this group a cornerstone of the aquarium hobby.

The Ornate Tetra is a very peaceful schooling fish that should be kept in groups of eight to ten or more, where males establish temporary dominance hierarchies that drive the most interesting behavioral displays and intensify their coloration. Ideal tankmates include similarly-sized characins, gasteropelecids, lebiasinids, and small catfish such as Corydoras or Otocinclus. They thrive in a well-furnished biotope-style setup featuring a dark sandy substrate, driftwood roots and branches, dried leaf litter, and dim lighting provided by floating vegetation — an arrangement that mimics their natural blackwater habitat. They are omnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates, crustaceans, filamentous algae, and fallen fruit in nature, and in the aquarium they do well on a varied diet of quality dried foods supplemented with live and frozen chironomid larvae, Daphnia, and mosquito larvae.

This species requires stable, pristine water conditions and should never be introduced to a biologically immature aquarium — it is sensitive to the accumulation of organic pollutants, making regular weekly water changes essential. Optimal parameters include a temperature of 20–28°C, pH 5.0–7.5, and very soft to moderately hard water. Like most small characins, they are egg-scattering free spawners with no parental care. Adults spawn readily when conditioned with live foods, scattering eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. The fry require exceptionally small initial foods — Paramecium or proprietary 5–50 micron fry powders — before graduating to Artemia nauplii and microworm as they grow. A separate rearing tank is recommended to protect eggs and fry from adult predation.