Lemon Tetra Hyphessobrycon Pulchripinnis 2cm

Overview

The Lemon Tetra is a translucent lemon-yellow tetra with a bright red upper eye and a black-edged anal fin, colours that intensify as the fish matures in a planted tank. It is calm, mid-water shoaling and slightly larger than a neon, giving it more presence. It comes from the Tapajós and Xingu basins in Brazil and suits any soft water community.

• Adult Size: Around 4–4.5 cm (1.75 in); males slightly smaller
• Lifespan: 4–6 years

Origin

• Native to: Rio Tapajós and lower Rio Xingu basins, central Brazil
• Habitat: Small tributaries, oxbows and flooded forest; clear, slow water

Feeding

• Diet: Omnivorous
• Preferred Foods: Flake, micro pellets, bloodworm, daphnia, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp
• Feeding Habits: Small feeds once or twice daily; colour improves with regular frozen food

Tank Mates

• Best with: Other tetras, rasboras, Corydoras, dwarf cichlids, peaceful gouramis
• Avoid: Large or aggressive species, fast fin nippers

Aggression & Behaviour

• Temperament: Very peaceful
• Territoriality: None; males posture harmlessly

Experience Level

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Challenges: Looks washed out until settled; needs a group and dim light

Water Parameters

• Water Type: Freshwater, soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic
• Temperature: 22–27°C (72–81°F)
• pH: 5.5–7.5
• Hardness: 1–12 dGH
• Flow: Slow to moderate
• Tank Size: Minimum 70 litres; 80 cm long for a shoal of eight or more

Final Notes

Shop specimens look pale; the yellow deepens over weeks in a mature planted tank with a dark substrate and subdued light. Keep eight or more so the fish stay confident and the males show. Egg scatterer with no parental care; males are slimmer with a broader black band on the anal fin, females deeper bodied. Hardy, long lived and an underrated community favourite.