- Sku: FW1-F1219
- Vendor: Squeaky's Aquatics
Colombian Red and Blue Tetra (Hyphessobrycon columbianus)
The Colombian Red and Blue Tetra (Hyphessobrycon columbianus) is a bigger, bolder tetra for a community tank: a silver body washed with iridescent blue along the back, set off by bright blood-red tail and anal fins. It is hardy, easy to feed and beginner friendly, and a school of them gives a tank real movement in the middle of the water column. Browse the rest of our freshwater fish and supplies.
A Bigger Tetra That Needs Room to Swim
This is not a neon-sized fish. It reaches about 2.5 inches and swims fast and constantly, so tank length matters more than gallons. In a small group or a cramped tank it gets skittish and chases more; in a school of eight or more in a long tank it settles down and shows its best color.
Care Guide
- Tank size: a 10 gallon works as a starter for a small group, but plan on 20 gallons or more, about 30 inches long, for a full school. Give them open swimming space with plants around the edges.
- Water: 72 to 80°F, pH 6.0 to 7.5, soft to moderately hard. Adaptable to most tap water once settled.
- Diet: omnivore. A quality flake or small pellet as the staple, with frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp a few times a week. Color is best on a varied diet.
- Group size: six is the minimum and eight to ten is the honest recommendation. Males are slimmer, more intensely colored and have a longer dorsal fin.
- Lid: use one. Active tetras this size can jump when startled.
- Watch for: pale color usually means stress from too small a group, a bare tank or poor water. It returns once they are settled.
Specifications
| Common names | Colombian Red and Blue Tetra, Red and Blue Colombian Tetra, Blue Flame Tetra, Colombian Red Fin Tetra |
| Scientific name | Hyphessobrycon columbianus |
| Origin | Northern Colombia (Río Acandí drainage) |
| Care level | Beginner |
| Temperament | Peaceful, active schooler |
| Adult size | About 2.5 inches |
| Minimum group | 6, ideally 8 to 10 |
| Minimum tank | 10 gallon starter, 20 gallons or more for a school |
| Temperature | 72 to 80°F |
| pH | 6.0 to 7.5 |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Water type | Freshwater |
Compatibility
Good tank mates are other medium, peaceful fish: Black Skirt Tetras, Bleeding Heart Tetras, Harlequin Rasboras, Panda Cories and Otocinclus.
What goes wrong: they are fast and busy at feeding time, so slow, long-finned fish like bettas and fancy guppies can lose out or get harassed, especially if the tetra group is small. Very small fish and baby shrimp may be eaten. Large cichlids and anything with a mouth big enough to swallow a 2 inch fish will treat them as food.
Recommended Foods & Supplies
- Xtreme Community PeeWee Pellets or Hikari Micro Pellets as the daily staple
- Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Flakes for variety
- SFBB Mini-Bloodworms as a treat a few times a week
- Seachem Prime for water changes
FAQ
How many should I buy?
Six at the least, and eight to ten if your tank has the room. They are sold each, so you can build the group to fit your tank. A bigger school is calmer and more colorful.
Why does mine look pale and silver?
New fish, a small group, bright bare tanks and poor water all wash the color out. Give them a group, some plants or darker decor and stable water, and the blue and red come back within a week or two.
How big do they get?
About 2.5 inches as adults, noticeably bigger than a neon tetra. Plan the tank around the adult size.
Are they fin nippers?
They are generally peaceful, but they are fast and boisterous at feeding time. With other active fish they are fine; we would not put a small group in with a betta or long-finned fancy guppies.
Can they live with shrimp?
Adult Amano and cherry shrimp are usually fine in a planted tank. Baby shrimp are likely to be eaten.
Have a question?
Colombian Red and Blue Tetra (Hyphessobrycon columbianus)
