Eilyos Tetra

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to Brazil, specifically recorded in the upper Araguaia River basin. Inhabits shallow headwaters and streams with clear to light-tannin waters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: A small characid of the genus Hyphessobrycon. Features a compact, laterally compressed body. Reaches a maximum size of 4.0 cm.

Social Behavior: Peaceful and shoaling. Must be kept in a school of at least 8 individuals. Schooling helps reduce stress and promotes their iridescent coloration.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Silvery-olive body highlighted by striking reddish-orange coloration on the dorsal, anal, and caudal fin bases. Males are slimmer and exhibit deeper fin pigmentation than females.

Aquarium Setup: An 80-liter tank with dense planting, leaf litter, and driftwood is ideal. Subdued lighting via floating plants will help replicate their natural forest stream biotope.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous. Readily consumes tiny high-quality flakes and granules. Feed live or frozen daphnia, cyclops, and baby brine shrimp to enhance coloration.

Water Quality: Demands soft, acidic to neutral water conditions. Maintain temperature at 23-28 °C, pH 5.5-7.5, and hardness at 2-10 dGH.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Perfect for South American community tanks. Can be housed with other small tetras, pencilfish, corydoras, and peaceful dwarf cichlids.

Aquarium Breeding: Egg scatterer. Requires a dedicated breeding tank with soft, acidic water and fine-leaved plants. Remove parents immediately after spawning to protect the eggs.

Risks and Diseases: Highly sensitive to high nitrates and poor filtration. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent common parasitic infections.