| Red phantom tetra | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Characidae |
| Genus: | Hyphessobrycon |
| Species: | H. sweglesi |
| Binomial name | |
| Hyphessobrycon sweglesi (Géry, 1961) | |
Hyphessobrycon sweglesi is a species of tetra that lives in the Orinoco River drainage basin in South America. The species' scientific name used to be Megalamphodus sweglisi and the species' common name is red phantom tetra. It grows up to 4 cm (1.6 in).
Appearance
The fish has a round black spot behind the gill-plate, a black band on the dorsal fin that is bordered above and below by creamy-white. The other fins are red same as the upper rim of the eye. The species' appearance is very similar to Hyphessobrycon megalopterus (black phantom tetra).
In the aquarium
Water Conditions
Aquarists keep this fish in water ranging from 20 to 23 °C (68 to 73 °F) that is soft (50–100mg/L) and acidic (pH 6.5). The H. sweglesi is reported to be very sensitive to water chemistry, which affects the fish's coloration. Frequent water changes are advised for it to thrive and to induce it to breed.
Diet
The fish eats worms, small insects, and crustaceans. In captivity, aquarists feed it prepared foods and small live foods.
Breeding
The species can lay up to 400 eggs that can hatch in a day. The eggs are susceptible to fungus.
Aquarists put dark substrate in the spawning tank to protect the eggs from light.
References
- Taphorn, D.C.; DoNascimiento, C.; Herrera-Collazos, E.E.; Mojica, J.I.; Rodríguez-Olarte, D. & Villa-Navarro, F. (2021). "Hyphessobrycon sweglesi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T61662727A61662735. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T61662727A61662735.en. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Hyphessobrycon sweglesi". FishBase. November 2009 version.
- "Red Phantom Tetra Information". Tropical Fish Aquariums. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
- ^ Alderton, David (2019). Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-2413-6424-6.
- McInerny, Derek; Geoffry Gerard (1989). All About Tropical Fish (4th ed.). Great Britain: Harrap Limited. pp. 248. ISBN 0-8160-2168-6.
External links
- Red Phantom Tetra Fact Sheet Archived 2012-10-27 at the Wayback Machine
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Hyphessobrycon sweglesi | |
| Megalamphodus sweglesi | |
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