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Lemon tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) — Characidae

Lemon tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
Family: Characidae

The Lemon tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
3.8 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
South America: Brazil
Edibility
Highly prized

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Description

The Lemon tetra is a small characin (Characidae) from fresh water of the Tapajos basin in Brazil. The species grows to about 4 cm and has a slender, partly translucent body. The body is lemon-yellow translucent with a bright-red upper eye rim and yellow-black fins. As a schooling fish it swims in clear streams and rivers and eats small insects, larvae and plant material. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Lemon tetra?

The Lemon tetra has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly yellow-gold.

Where does the Lemon tetra live?

The Lemon tetra lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. South America: Brazil

How big does the Lemon tetra get?

The Lemon tetra grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Lemon tetra dangerous to humans?

No, the Lemon tetra is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Lemon tetra edible?

Yes, the Lemon tetra is a highly prized food fish.

More photos

Lemon tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) — Characidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) IHUNTA, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Lemon tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) — Characidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) sofhere, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Lemon tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) — Characidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — SOK (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lemon tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) — Characidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Paul from United Kingdom (CC BY 2.0)
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Lemon tetra sourced
Scientific name
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
Family
Characidae
Other names
Lemon tetra verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.8 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
South America: Brazil sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Highly prized inferred
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Hyphessobrycon

More from the family Characidae

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