Tetra Blue Emperor

TETRA BLUE EMPEROR (M/L) 2,5-3 cm

They belong to the Characidae family in the Characiformes Order and inhabit the waters of the Upper Amazon and Peru. They prefer calm waters with plenty of vegetation to protect themselves from predators. They are shoaling fish that move in the lower and middle regions of the aquarium, are peaceful in nature, and are thus suitable to coexist with other fish of similar size and behavior. They do not exceed 6 cm in length, and an aquarium with a minimum length of 80 cm is considered suitable for this species.

The aquarium should be planted but also have 50% open space to allow them room to swim. A group of at least 8 or more individuals is ideal to observe their behavior, especially if they have suitable tank mates that won't stress them out. In a larger aquarium, they can coexist easily with angelfish and, of course, with Corydoras or other catfish species.

The water should have a pH ranging from 5.5 to 7 and low hardness. Ideally, the KH should be between 5 and 7 dKH, and the general hardness GH should not exceed 10 dGH. The temperature should be within the normal range for tropical fish, between 24°C to 27°C. As with all species originating from the "blackwater" of the Amazon, the addition of peat to the aquarium is considered highly beneficial. You can place peat in the filter or in a mesh bag and position it directly in the aquarium. An alternative solution is to add some dried oak leaves, which have the property of releasing substances that improve water quality and give it a brownish tint.

Their diet is not problematic as they will eat all available commercial foods, including flakes, dried foods, and frozen foods, which are preferred for these species.