Head & Taillight tetra
Encyclopedia
The Head & Tail Light Tetra (Hemigrammus ocellifer) is a South American freshwater fish
. Also known by the binomial synonyms Hemibrycon ocellifer and Tetragonopterus ocellifer it is found in the rivers of Guyana
, Suriname
, French Guiana
, and the Amazon Basin
of Brazil
and Peru
.
Most specimens offered for sale in the aquatics trade are tank-raised.
With a maximum size of 5 centimetres (2 in) the sexes are distinguished as mature females are fuller bodied.
A great species for planted community aquariums. Head & Tail Light Tetras must be kept in groups of 6 or more, and should be provided with floating plants to help diffuse any bright lighting. Hiding places and open swimming areas should be provided when aquascaping the tank, and consideration should be given to the fact that the colours of this fish show up best when they are housed in tanks with a dark substrate and background.
Freshwater fish
Freshwater fish are fish that spend some or all of their lives in freshwater, such as rivers and lakes, with a salinity of less than 0.05%. These environments differ from marine conditions in many ways, the most obvious being the difference in levels of salinity...
. Also known by the binomial synonyms Hemibrycon ocellifer and Tetragonopterus ocellifer it is found in the rivers of Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
, Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
, French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
, and the Amazon Basin
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
Most specimens offered for sale in the aquatics trade are tank-raised.
With a maximum size of 5 centimetres (2 in) the sexes are distinguished as mature females are fuller bodied.
Care
Captive-raised specimens will acclimatise to a wide range of aquarium conditions, water should be between pH: 6-8, dH: up to 18 degrees and the water at a temperature between 72 to 79 °F (22.2 to 26.1 C).A great species for planted community aquariums. Head & Tail Light Tetras must be kept in groups of 6 or more, and should be provided with floating plants to help diffuse any bright lighting. Hiding places and open swimming areas should be provided when aquascaping the tank, and consideration should be given to the fact that the colours of this fish show up best when they are housed in tanks with a dark substrate and background.