Red Line Tetra

About

Found only in shallow savanna creeks over sand and gravel in the Amapá state of Brazil, this obscure little characid, Hyphessobrycon amapaensis, is sometimes traded under casual names like 'red line tetra' or 'neon black red stripe tetra'. Labels it shares with a few close relatives, which can make sourcing the genuine article a bit of a puzzle. It belongs to a tight cluster of similarly patterned species, but can be told apart by the creamy or whitish central lateral stripe (not golden as in the closely related flag tetra), along with a reduced lower dark stripe that often fades to a small humeral spot rather than running the full body length. A red upper-eye coloration rounds out the look. In the aquarium it is a peaceful, active mid-water schooler that does best when kept in groups of eight or more. It fits naturally into a community of similarly sized South American characins, smaller catfishes, and non-aggressive cichlids. Care sits at an intermediate level. Nothing difficult, but soft, slightly acidic water and attention to tankmates will bring out the best behavior and color. Breeding follows the typical egg-scattering pattern of the group, and with a well-conditioned group and a separate spawning setup, raising fry is a realistic goal for the patient keeper.