Maya Tetra

About

The Maya tetra (Hyphessobrycon compressus) holds a curious distinction in the fishkeeping world: it is the type species of the enormous genus Hyphessobrycon, yet it remains largely absent from the ornamental trade. Most hobbyists will recognize the genus name from dozens of popular tetras, but the species that anchors the whole group is genuinely hard to track down. It originates from the Río Papaloapam basin in Mexico, which puts it at the northern edge of the typical South American tetra range. A relatively unusual origin for a Hyphessobrycon. In terms of placement within the genus, molecular and morphological research has shown it sits closer to the so-called rosy tetra cluster than to many of the other species that share its genus name, though the broader taxonomy of Hyphessobrycon is still being actively sorted out. In the aquarium it behaves as you would expect from a small characin. A schooling fish that does best in a group, comfortable in a planted setup with soft to moderately hard water. At one to two inches it doesn't need a lot of space, though a 20-gallon tank gives a school room to move properly. Care level is pegged at intermediate, so some experience with tetras is helpful before seeking this one out.