Eques Tetra

Hyphessobrycon eques — encompassing the fish commonly sold as the Serpae Tetra — is one of the most widely kept tetras in the hobby. Its deep red body is marked with a black comma-shaped shoulder spot and accented by dark-edged dorsal and pelvic fins. Vibrant, active, and easy to keep, it has been an aquarium staple for many decades. It is peaceful in groups of eight or more but is known to nip the fins of slow-moving, long-finned species. Best paired with other active, short-finned community fish. It adapts well to a range of water parameters, making it an accessible choice for beginners.

Water: pH 5.5–7.5, temperature 22–28 °C; soft to moderately hard. Very adaptable. Tank: 40 L minimum; planted aquarium with open swimming space. Keep in groups of 8+ to minimize fin-nipping. Feeding: Omnivore; accepts all standard aquarium foods; supplement with live or frozen foods for conditioning. Breeding: Easy prolific egg-scatterer; spawns in soft slightly acidic water over fine plants. Compatibility: Semi-aggressive toward long-finned species; best with active short-finned fish of similar size.