Dash-dot Tetra
Hemigrammus bellottii
Elegant and slender tetra, characterized by a pale livery on which stands out the curious dark black lateral sequence 'line, space, dot' near the tail.
Température de l’eau
23 - 27 °C
Valeur du pH
5.5 - 7
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Milieu
Taille adulte
4 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 80 L
Groupe minimal
>= 6
GH
1 - 10 dGH
KH
1 - 6 dKH
TDS
25 - 210 ppm
Conductivité
39 - 328 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the upper Amazon River basin (Brazil and Peru) and the Rio Negro. Prefers black waters (Blackwater) or clear waters strongly rich in tannins, flowing slowly through flooded forests and dense riparian vegetation.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Bellotti's Tetra (Hemigrammus bellottii). Small characin with an elongated lozenge shape. Features the classic adipose fin of characins and an incomplete lateral line, a distinguishing feature of the Hemigrammus genus compared to Astyanax.
Social Behavior: Gregarious and lively nature. Moves constantly in a school in the central water column. Group cohesion (minimum 8-10 individuals) is essential to dampen intraspecific aggression and prevent lethargy.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Semi-transparent to greenish-gray body, crossed by a brilliant iridescent golden lateral stripe ending in a dark spot on the caudal peduncle. Females are visibly plumper, especially when gravid with eggs.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Minimum 60 cm (24 inches) tank. Recommended biotope setup: dark or river sand, intricate wood, oak leaves on the bottom to darken the water and lower the pH. Light shielded by floating plants (Limnobium or Pistia).
Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous micro-predator. Very easy to feed. In nature, it feeds on insects and zooplankton; in the aquarium, it voraciously accepts crumbled flakes, micro-pellets, and preferably live or frozen food like Artemia and Daphnia.
Water Quality: Requires stable parameters and soft water. Moderately tolerates pollutants but thrives only in well-filtered water with a slight flow. Maintain classic tropical temperatures between 23 and 27°C (73-80°F).
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Excellent fish for peaceful South American community tanks. Coexists beautifully with Corydoras, dwarf Loricariids (Otocinclus), and small shy Cichlids like Apistogramma. Avoid pairing with adult angelfish or large predators.
Aquarium Breeding: Egg scatterer among fine-leaved vegetation (e.g. Java Moss). Parents provide no parental care and will actively eat their own eggs if not separated after the morning spawning.
Risks and Diseases: Relatively hardy. However, sensitive to classic bacterial pollution diseases and Ichthyophthirius (Ich) if subjected to severe temperature fluctuations.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Endemic to the upper Amazon River basin (Brazil and Peru) and the Rio Negro. Prefers black waters (Blackwater) or clear waters strongly rich in tannins, flowing slowly through flooded forests and dense riparian vegetation.
Origine
Amazonie, Orénoque et Guyanes
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Semi-aggressive
- They are exceptionally peaceful and somewhat shy, requiring a large school of at least six individuals to feel secure. When kept in smaller numbers, they may become stressed, lose their vibrant colors, and hide continuously. A proper schooling environment encourages their natural, confident behaviors and tight grouping dynamics.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- In the wild, they are micro-predators feeding on small insects, worms, and crustaceans. In the aquarium, they readily accept high-quality crushed flakes, micro-pellets, and freeze-dried foods. Supplementing their diet with live or frozen foods like daphnia, baby brine shrimp, and bloodworms will enhance their coloration and vitality.
- Espérance de vie
- 3-5 years
- Taille adulte
- 4 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- School
- Keeping a balanced ratio or a slight majority of females is generally recommended to prevent males from constantly harassing a single female. In a large enough school, the sex ratio becomes less critical as aggression is dispersed. A larger group naturally forms a healthy hierarchy, minimizing any stress related to breeding behavior.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- It is highly recommended to feed them two to three small meals a day rather than one large one. Offering only what they can consume within a couple of minutes ensures minimal food waste and prevents water quality degradation. Frequent, small feedings closely mimic their natural foraging behavior in the wild.
- Charge biologique
- Low
- These small tetras produce a minimal bioload, making them excellent candidates for smaller or heavily planted aquariums. They do not generate significant amounts of waste compared to larger species, reducing the burden on the filtration system. However, keeping them in large schools will naturally increase the overall waste output, requiring adequate biological filtration.
- Courant
- Stagnant
- They prefer a moderate to low water flow that simulates the slow-moving tributaries and flooded forest regions of their natural habitat. Strong currents can exhaust these small fish and cause them significant stress over time. Providing areas of still water, particularly near dense vegetation, allows them places to rest comfortably.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- Like many tetras, they are capable of jumping, particularly when startled by sudden movements or lighting changes. A secure, well-fitting aquarium lid is strongly recommended to prevent any accidental escapes. Floating plants can also help make them feel more secure and reduce their instinct to jump.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding these tetras can be challenging as they are egg-scatterers that provide no parental care. They require soft, acidic water and dim lighting to trigger spawning behavior successfully. A separate breeding tank with fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop is necessary, and parents must be removed immediately after laying eggs to prevent predation.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Peaceful
- This species is incredibly peaceful and thrives in a community setup with other similarly sized, non-aggressive fish. Excellent tank mates include small rasboras, Corydoras catfish, and peaceful dwarf cichlids. They should never be kept with large or aggressive species that might view them as prey or cause them undue stress.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle
- These fish primarily occupy the middle to upper levels of the water column in the aquarium. They are active swimmers that appreciate ample open swimming space combined with areas of dense planting. While they occasionally dart to the surface for food or explore the bottom, they will spend most of their time cruising the midwater.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,2 ± 0,4 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.01259, b = 3.08
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
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