Golden Tetra
Hemigrammus levis
Commonly (and erroneously) sometimes labeled as 'Golden Tetra', it actually boasts a beautiful semi-transparent silvery body topped by a diffuse golden iridescence and a marked dark band in the caudal peduncle.
Temperatura da água
23 - 28 °C
Valor de pH
6 - 7.5
Tipo de água
Água doce
Nível do tanque
Meio
Tamanho adulto
5 cm
Volume mínimo do tanque
>= 80 L
Grupo mínimo
>= 6
GH
1 - 12 dGH
KH
1 - 6 dKH
TDS
25 - 240 ppm
Condutividade
39 - 375 uS/cm
Descrição da espécie
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed in the Amazon River basin (Brazil). Inhabits open waters in slow streams, quiet inlets, and floodplain lakes, generally avoiding areas with strong currents.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Golden Tetra / Levis Tetra (Hemigrammus levis). The body is silvery and elongated, similar in shape to a Buenos Aires Tetra but much less boisterous. The mouth is pointed slightly upwards to catch insects.
Social Behavior: Highly gregarious species and active swimmer. Tends to occupy the middle and upper layers of the water column. A school of 10 or more individuals is crucial: fewer numbers lead the specimens to hide.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Brilliant silvery base, often with delicate golden or greenish reflections under angled lighting. Features a dark tear-shaped spot on the caudal peduncle and a thin horizontal dark line. Females are noticeably broader.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Aquarium Setup: A standard 80 cm (32 inches) aquarium provides enough swimming space. Prefers open aquariums with floating plants. Being a lively fish, it requires wide central spaces clear of bulky rocks or wood.
Diet and Feeding: Micro-predator. Accepts any prepared food: floating micro-pellets, flakes, brine shrimp, and daphnia. Particularly useful for controlling the proliferation of small aquatic insects or mosquitoes in summer.
Water Quality: Decidedly adaptable and tolerant compared to most Hemigrammus. Withstands moderately hard waters (up to 12 GH) and neutral/slightly alkaline (up to 7.5 pH), making it perfect for novice aquarists.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Extremely peaceful and an excellent "dither fish" for dwarf Cichlids or shy Loricariids, as its incessant open-water swimming signals the absence of predators. Avoid pairing with predatory or very large fish.
Aquarium Breeding: Highly prolific egg scatterers. Males drive females to spawn among thickets of fine plants at dawn. Parents will quickly eat the spawn if a bottom net is not used.
Risks and Diseases: Being very active and fast, they can be suddenly startled (for example, by the brutal turning on of lights) and hit the glass or jump out. Very resistant to classic diseases.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Widely distributed in the Amazon River basin (Brazil). Inhabits open waters in slow streams, quiet inlets, and floodplain lakes, generally avoiding areas with strong currents.
Origem
Amazônia, Orinoco e Guianas
Perfil de peixe
- Temperamento
- 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.
- Dieta
- 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.
- Expectativa de vida
- 3-5 years
- Tamanho adulto
- 5 cm
- Proporção sexual
- 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.
- Frequência de alimentação
- 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.
- Carga biológica
- 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.
- Fluxo
- 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.
- Risco de salto
- 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.
- Reprodução
- 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.
- Compatibilidade e companheiros de tanque
- Semi-aggressive
- 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.
- Nível do tanque
- 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.
Modelos e parâmetros científicos
FishBase
Acesso aos dados científicos oficiais da espécie
FishBase v25.04Dados sincronizados em: 15/06/2026
- Nível trófico
- 3,3 ± 0,4 se
- Resiliência
- Alta (menos de 15 meses)
- Unicidade filogenética (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relação bayesiana comprimento-peso
- a = 0.01, b = 3.05
- VulnerabilidadeVulnerabilidade baixa (10 / 100)
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