Serpae Tetra

Hyphessobrycon eques

A vivid red tetra that may nip fins unless kept in a large group of at least 12. Very active and hardy once settled.

Care Parameters

Adult size

4 cm

Min tank

54 L

Temperature

20–28°C

5–7.5

1–15 dGH

Diet

Omnivore

Temperament

Peaceful

Water zone

Middle

Difficulty

Beginner

Schooling

School of 12 or more to prevent fin nipping.

Suitable Plants

Red Rotala

Red stem plant. Turns red under high light with CO₂.

Amazon Sword

Care profile for Amazon Sword: medium light, low CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Rotala sp. h'ra

A stunning stem plant that develops intense orange-red coloration under high light and CO2. Narrow leaves arranged in whorls create a striking background accent in aquascapes.

Staurogyne repens

Care profile for Staurogyne repens: medium light, low CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Ludwigia arcuata

A delicate stem plant with thin, needle-like leaves that turn deep red under high light. Also known as Needle Leaf Ludwigia, it adds fine texture and vibrant color to aquascapes.

Compatible Invertebrates

King Kong Shrimp

A solid black color morph of Caridina cantonensis with minimal white markings. One of the rarest and most expensive shrimp variants. Requires expert-level water parameters.

Rabbit Snail

A large, striking freshwater snail with a conical shell and colorful body. Comes in orange, yellow, and dark variants. Active algae and detritus consumer, but slow breeder.

Mystery Snail

A colorful, active apple snail that cruises the glass for algae and leftover food. Pairs lay their pink egg clutches above the waterline - remove them to avoid overpopulation. Keep hardness at 7-18 dGH and offer calcium-rich foods so the shell stays strong.

Vampire Shrimp

A large, impressive freshwater shrimp with fan-like appendages used to filter feed from the current. Can grow up to 15 cm and requires strong water flow and clean, well-oxygenated water.