Family Characidae ( Characidae )
Group of uncertain status ( Incertae Sedis )
Genus Hyphessobrycon.
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— Yellow Phantom Tetra, Rosy Tetra — Hyphessobrycon roseus [Gery, 1960]. Synonym: Megalamphodus roseus. (Eng.: Rosy Tetra, Yellow Phantom Tetra). Guiana, Maroni River. 3 cm. Body high, strongly compressed laterally, caudal peduncle narrow. The translucent body has a light honey color, internal organs in the abdominal cavity are covered with a yellowish-silvery shiny membrane. The back is yellowish-olive with a soft greenish sheen. Under good conditions, most of the posterior half of the body becomes copper-orange.
Against this background, there is a black spot behind the head, preceded by a shiny golden spot. While in many representatives of the genus Hyphessobrycon this spot is vertically elongated or diamond-shaped, in Hyphessobrycon roseus it is almost round. Fins are transparent, yellowish, rays on the front edge of the anal fin are milky-white, on the dorsal fin at the bottom they are yellow, further smoky, at the very tip milky-white. Males are brighter, the black spot on their body is smaller. Females are slightly fuller.
Very peaceful and timid fish. Can be kept only with other small fish in an aquarium with hiding places. Lighting is moderate. Although it can live in slightly alkaline water, it is more brightly colored when kept in acidic conditions. Fish feed on any small live food, eagerly eating cyclops and daphnia. pH 5.5-7.2; dH 2-15°; T 23-27°C.
— Rosy Tetra — Hyphessobrycon rosaceus [Durbin, 1909]. Synonym: Hyphessobrycon ornatus, bentosi rosaceus. Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, Essequibo River, Suriname River. 4 cm. Their body and fins are colored in various shades of pink to almost transparent, belly lighter. Back olive-brown, belly silvery. Lower rear part of the body pink-red, the rest colored pale yellow.
On the side, behind the gill cover, there is a round black spot on a reddish-yellow background. Unlike some other characids, the spot near the gill cover is not oblong, but almost round, quite large, pure black. Dorsal and anal fins transparent, tips of the first rays white. In the male, the dorsal fin is elongated, with a pointed top, and often with a dark (black) middle part. Caudal fin yellowish-green with brick-red spots in the middle of the lobes.
The very edge of the caudal fin is transparent, only its middle, as well as the entire lower part of the body, is scarlet. Anal and ventral fins are yellowish-red with black front rays and white tips. Sexual dimorphism is clearly expressed: the male is brighter, slimmer, dorsal fin is long and falcate, with a black spot in the upper part, sometimes reaching the caudal fin. The first rays of the anal fin are elongated. The female is significantly larger than the male, dorsal fin is shorter, with a white stripe on top.
Peaceful, this schooling fish should be kept only in large groups of at least 6 individuals. Feels good in the company of other small and peaceful species. Swimming space and bright light. Fish look better on a dark background and substrate. They stay in the middle and lower water layers among plants, where males constantly perform fluttering dances around females. Fish that require only clean, well-aerated water, regular water changes. Dense vegetation at the edges. Small live, frozen and flake food. Easily susceptible to diseases. Spawns on fine-leaved plants. pH 6.0-7.5; dH up to 15°; T 23-26°C.
— Lesser Bleeding Heart Tetra — Hyphessobrycon socolofi [Weitzman, 1977]. (Eng.: Lesser Bleeding Heart Tetra, Spotfin Tetra). South America, Brazil, Rio Negro basin. 4-5 cm. Eyes reddish. Olive-pink with a small red spot behind the gill cover, at the level of the dorsal fin. In the male, the dorsal fin is flag-like elongated, with a large dark spot in a milky border in the upper part. The male has a bluish sheen on the body and anal fin. His anal fin has a colorless border. The female is smaller, fuller, her anal fin has a red edge.
In small schools, they get along well in mixed aquariums with calm companions, but lively neighbors (serpae tetras, Nannostomus) are better, forcing them to move through constant play. Keep in a school; it is also important that there are no more than two females per male. Aquarium with open swimming areas, needs hiding places made of stem and floating plants. They live in twilight water covered with floating plants.
Water soft to moderately hard. Fish are heat-loving. Very sensitive to nitrite content, so regular water changes are necessary. When kept in poor conditions, during transfer and fright, coloration sharply fades. Omnivorous, accept all types of food, need a moderate diet. Mature at 6-8 months. Successfully breeds in captivity. Spawn among fine-leaved plants. Live up to 5 years. pH 5.8-7.0; dH up to 10°; T 24-27°C.
— Red Phantom Tetra, Swegles’s Tetra — Hyphessobrycon sweglesi [Gery, 1961]. Synonym: Megalamphodus sweglesi. (Eng.: Red Phantom Tetra, Swegles’s Tetra). South America, Colombia, inhabits shady forest areas of the upper Meta and Rìo Muco rivers. 4 cm. Body elongated, oval, strongly compressed laterally. In body structure they are similar to black phantoms, but the shape of the falcate dorsal fin in males is different. In the red phantom it is pointed at the end, while in the black it is rounded.
The general coloration of the fish is golden-red, body translucent. Pale pink color predominates in the body coloration, more saturated towards the back, golden towards the belly. On the side, there is a black humeral spot of round or oblong shape with a golden border. Behind the gill covers, another small black spot can be seen. Unpaired fins range from yellow-red to deep red, colored more intensely at the edges. Dorsal fin high, adorned with a black spot near the apex, a white rim runs above it, while the female has a small white mark on the very edge.
Ventral fins evenly dark red. Edge of the anal fin with a narrow black border. Caudal fin is forked. The male’s body is redder than the female’s, the high dorsal fin is almost entirely red, only black at the tip. The female’s is tricolor: red at the bottom, black in the middle, and bordered with white on top. During spawning, males hold their fins widely spread and turn blood-red.
The most important distinction is the dorsal fin — falcate tapering towards the tail in the male, often with a dark middle part, and shorter, rounded, wider with a white tip in the female. Near the gill cover, the black spot in the male is faint or absent altogether. In addition, in an adult female, maturing eggs can be clearly seen through the transparent abdominal wall. Color intensity varies greatly and depends entirely on keeping conditions. Under too bright light or poor quality water, fish become pale pink.
Peaceful, graceful, fairly sensitive schooling fish. It is recommended to keep them in a school of at least 8 individuals. When kept alone, they quickly become timid and dull, but in a school they are much more active and stay in sight more often. Non-aggressive fish of the same size are chosen as neighbors. Occupies middle water layers. In addition to developed vegetation and driftwood, diffused light (from floating plants) and dark substrate are recommended. Moderate lighting.
Water very soft, slightly acidic, filtered through peat, which stabilizes necessary pH levels. Filtration, aeration, and weekly water changes are necessary. Keeping at high temperature leads to shortened lifespan. Prefer small live foods, primarily cyclops, also eagerly eat daphnia, small bloodworms, do not refuse glassworms. They also like dry mixed foods. Easily tolerate diseases. Fish are prone to plistophorosis (neon disease). Reach sexual maturity at 8-10 months. Fry acquire adult coloration in a month. pH 6.0-7.0; dH 2-8°; T 23-25°C.
Identification: Genus Hyphessobrycon — Hyphessobrycon rosaceus, socolofi, sweglesi.
Hyphessobrycon stegemanni, takasei, vilmae, werneri.
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis, pyrrhonotus, reticulatus. 
