Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Active

Cochu's Blue Tetra is renowned for its hyperactive, boisterous, and sometimes pushy temperament. While not overtly predatory, their high-speed darting and occasional fin-nipping can severely stress more delicate species. They are best suited for lively, fast-paced community aquariums.

Diet

Omnivore

They are omnivorous and readily accept a wide variety of aquarium foods. A staple diet of high-quality flakes and micro-pellets provides their basic nutritional needs. However, regular feedings of frozen or live foods, such as daphnia and brine shrimp, are necessary to maintain their striking blue hue.

Sex ratio

School

Maintaining a balanced sex ratio within a large school helps disperse their high energy and nippy tendencies. Males will spar among themselves, but these interactions are generally harmless if the school is large enough. A minimum group size of eight is necessary to prevent them from harassing other tank mates.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

Because of their high energy levels, feeding them small amounts two to three times daily is recommended. They are voracious eaters that will aggressively compete for food. Care should be taken to ensure that more timid bottom-dwelling tank mates are not outcompeted during feeding.

Bioload

Cochu's Blue Tetra is a highly active species that produces a moderate bioload when kept in proper school sizes. Their fast metabolism and energetic nature mean they require efficient biological and mechanical filtration. Frequent partial water changes are vital to remove dissolved waste and keep their vibrant blue coloration intact.

Flow

Stagnant

They inhabit flowing rivers in the Amazon basin and highly appreciate a moderate to strong water current in the aquarium. Active flow encourages their natural swimming behaviors and provides necessary exercise. Powerheads or strong filter returns are excellent additions to their setup.

Jump risk

Yes

Given their energetic swimming habits, they are highly prone to jumping out of the aquarium. A heavy, tightly fitting lid without any gaps is absolutely essential. Startling them during tank maintenance often triggers an explosive leaping response.

Reproduction

Oviparous

They are free-spawning egg-scatterers that exhibit no parental instincts. Breeding requires a separate, softly lit tank with a substrate of marbles or dense moss to hide the eggs. The adults are avid egg-eaters and must be removed the moment spawning is concluded.

Compatibility & tankmates

Due to their somewhat boisterous nature, they should only be kept with similarly active and robust species. Ideal tank mates include larger rasboras, danios, and hardy bottom-feeders like loaches. They are notorious fin-nippers and must never be kept with slow-moving or long-finned fish like Angelfish or Bettas.

Tank level

Middle/Bottom

They are pelagic fish that constantly cruise the middle and upper levels of the water column. They require long, unobstructed swimming spaces to burn off their boundless energy. They rarely rest among plants, preferring the open water instead.