Blueberry Tetra 4cm

Blueberry Tetra

The Blueberry Tetra is a stunning, uniquely coloured tetra that would be the perfect way of adding some life and gentle movement to an aquarium. These small fish are fairly easy to take care of and aside from being a great community fish, Blueberry Tetras are also a fantastic species to keep in a species-only aquarium. They aren’t a common species in the Australian aquarium trade either which makes them a great collectors species.

Blueberry Tetras are elegantly simple in their beauty, their body colour is a beautiful pastel blue colour which is contrasted by a peach-like pink, especially in the fins. The lateral line also carries this colouration, as juveniles these fish are quite bland which turns a lot of aquarists away however as the blueberry tetra matures they become showpiece fish. Naturally, these fish come from blackwater streams, thriving among the dense vegetation and tannin-stained waters, making them ideal for aquascapes that emulate these environments. The relaxed and elegant nature of these fish also makes them the perfect complementary species for high-tech planted aquascapes. 

Tank Recommendations for your Blueberry Tetra

Being a very small and relatively easy to care for fish the Blueberry Tetra can be kept in nano aquariums with the minimum being a 40-litre system. These fish can be kept in a very affordable aquarium setting as well with just a simple sponge filter, low-power lighting, some moss, and simple decor. A sand or gravel substrate would be fine for these tetras as well as a lot of plant growth which not only makes them contrast well but also makes them more comfortable in the aquarium to swim out in the open. Blueberry Tetras are soft water fish meaning they require a low PH. They can be kept in PH as low as 6 and will even look stunning in a black water aquarium setting.

Breeding

Breeding Blueberry tetras tends to be a little more challenging when compared to other tetra species as they are more secretive fish. To get the best success it is best to create a breeding aquarium with dense leaf litter or spawning mops. These are egg-scattering fish where females will scatter eggs through the aquarium and males follow by fertilizing. Females tend to be rounder-bodied compared to males however there are no direct distinguishing factors. The wild origin of Blueberry Tetras is South America.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The Blueberry Tetra is an extremely peaceful fish that displays no aggression at all. They may be quite shy which is why it is recommended to keep them in relatively large schools. They can also be shy and slow which is why it is better to avoid larger fast-moving fish.

Usually Compatible

Blueberry Tetras, Emperor Tetras, Plecos, Corydoras, Shrimp, Bolivian Rams, and other small community fish.  

Sometimes Compatible

Blueberry Tetras can be a relatively slow fish so any fin-nipping species or fish that may outcompete them for food such as Giant Danios, Tiger Barbs, Angelfish, or Torpedo Barbs. 

Rarely Compatible

Large and aggressive species such as Rainbow Sharks, Raphael Catfish, larger mouthed community fish may prey on the tetras. 

Feeding your Blueberry Tetra

Blueberry Tetras are a very easy fish to feed. They will take a wide range of pellets, flakes, and frozen foods. Just like any fish though they should be fed a varied diet with a mix of different foods. The ideal diet would be a good quality micro slow-sinking pellet or crushed flake, supplemented with frozen bloodworms or even live foods like baby brine shrimp.