Dawn Tetra

About

The dawn tetra (Aphyocharax paraguayensis) is a small characin from the Amazon and Paraguay River basins of South America, though its taxonomy has been debated for years. Some authorities have treated it as a synonym of Aphyocharax nattereri since the early 2000s, and confusion around the type locality keeps the question open. In the trade, it turns up more often as an accidental arrival mixed into shipments of other species than as a deliberate import, so you may find it available occasionally and at low cost. It's a compact fish, rarely exceeding an inch and a half, and shares the active, darting character typical of small characins. Like most shoaling tetras, it really needs a group of at least six to feel settled and behave naturally. That constant activity can occasionally annoy slower or sedentary tankmates, and fish with flowing fins may attract some nipping, so choose companions with that in mind. It works well alongside other similarly-sized characins, Corydoras, small Loricariids, and Apistogramma or other South American dwarf cichlids. Breeding is achievable with some effort. Soft, acidic water and fine-leaved plants as a spawning medium are key, and a well-conditioned pair can produce several hundred fry, making it a rewarding project for the patient intermediate keeper.