Home · Characidae · Striped mountain tetra
Striped mountain tetra (Hemibrycon taeniurus) — Characidae

Striped mountain tetra

Hemibrycon taeniurus
Family: Characidae

The Striped mountain tetra (Hemibrycon taeniurus) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
6.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
North America: Trinidad Tobago

Want the complete picture on the Striped mountain tetra?

Get the app

Description

The Striped mountain tetra is a small characin (Characidae) from fresh water of northwestern South America. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a slender, partly translucent body. A dark stripe runs over the tail base. 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 Striped mountain tetra?

The Striped mountain tetra has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Striped mountain tetra live?

The Striped mountain tetra lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. North America: Trinidad Tobago

How big does the Striped mountain tetra get?

The Striped mountain tetra grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Striped mountain tetra dangerous to humans?

No, the Striped mountain 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.

More photos

Striped mountain tetra (Hemibrycon taeniurus) — Characidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Amy Deacon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Striped mountain tetra (Hemibrycon taeniurus) — Characidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Saifudeen Muhammad, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Striped mountain tetra (Hemibrycon taeniurus) — Characidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Saifudeen Muhammad, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Striped mountain tetra (Hemibrycon taeniurus) — Characidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Bryan Ramdeen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Striped mountain tetra?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Striped mountain tetra is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Striped mountain tetra sourced
Scientific name
Hemibrycon taeniurus
Family
Characidae
Other names
Mountain-stream Sardine; Sardine; Mountain stream sardine verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
North America: Trinidad Tobago 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

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 Hemibrycon

More from the family Characidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Striped mountain tetra?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Striped mountain tetra is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Striped mountain tetra? Get the app