Lemon Tetra

Lemon Tetra

Glassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear to be just a sunbeam flashing through your community tank if not for background elements like plants and driftwood. Another member of the large characin clan, the lemon tetra has a fairly elongated body like its smaller relative the neon tetra and like neons and other characins, the lemon tetra does best if kept in small schools of six to eight fish.

One of the most distinguishing features of the lemon tetra is their large eyes. The upper part of the lemon tetra's eye is brilliant red, which is a sharp contrast to the yellow pastels it displays in its body colors. Actually, though, the lemon tetra is quite colorful on close inspection. Body coloring is a delicate pale yellow, flanks are silver, and the leading edge of the anal fin is shiny-bright-yellow and sharply divided from the other rays, which are black. In the male, the rest of the anal fin is broad and fringed in black, a characteristic that is missing in the plumper female. As many male characins do, the male lemon tetras also have tiny hooks on their anal fins. Both males and females have the tetras' characteristic adipose fin, which is also pale yellow in color.

Although omnivorous and able to exist on a diet of flaked food, the pale yellow color of the lemon tetra displays best if the fish's standard diet is well supplemented with live treats. The lemon tetra is an egg-scatterer. However, breeding can be tricky since females often have a problem expelling their eggs and after spawning, the lemon tetra like many others of its species, is quick to cannibalize its eggs if not removed from the breeding tank. However, eggs will hatch in about 24 hours after spawning. Fry should be fed a live diet and if they survive, they'll be about two inches long as adults.

Hans is author of Tetra Fish and Cichilds sections on aquarium-guides.com For more reviews visit our site.

Latest News


A Season of Responsibility for New Pet Owners
MarketWatch - 6 hours ago
Will the owner have a safe, pet-ready household? -- Will the owner be capable of caring for the pet for its lifetime, both in terms of time and financial ...

Homeless pets still need to eat
Reuters - 21 hours ago
With foreclosures of homes on the rise, so are stories of pet abandonment, but pet food maker Del Monte says sales of dog and cat food and treats hasn’t ...
Earnings Note: Del Monte Foods 2Q09 - Taming Pets The Alacra Store (subscription)
all 2 news articles

Pet-centric Retail Site Muttropolis.com Included in Internet ...
MarketWatch - Dec 3, 2008
Featured alongside some of the world's most highly regarded brands, Muttropolis is one of only three pet related sites to be included among the honorees and ...
ToolKing.com Makes Internet Retailer’s Hot 100 Retail Web Site List WebWire (press release)
Ritz Interactive Named to Internet Retailer's 2009 Hot 100 Best ... International Business Times
Ritz Interactive Named to Internet Retailer's 2009 Hot 100 Best ... MarketWatch
all 12 news articles

Make sure pets have safe, happy holidays
Pioneer Press Online, IL - 6 hours ago
As families start pulling out their favorite holiday recipes and shopping lists and decorations, it's easy to overlook one hairy detail: The family pets. ...

Bob Shallit: New animal hospital to offer hotel luxury for pets
Sacramento Bee,  USA - 8 hours ago
"It won't look like an animal hospital," says Dr. Schenck, who has run Mueller Pet Medical Center near Sac Executive Airport for the past 30 years. ...

Hilary Duff Has Precious Pets
Just Jared, NY - 4 hours ago
Hilary Duff buys a couple of fluffy toys for her cat on her trip to Maxwell Dog pet store in LA on Wednesday. Last week, Hilary attended the Rodeo Walk of ...

Weekly Vista

Pets as presents: Cute, but is it practical?
Weekly Vista, AR - 21 hours ago
Adopting a pet at Christmastime may bring joy to the family, but it also comes with responsibilities and expenses for years to come. ...
Exponential potential Arkansas Democrat Gazette
all 2 news articles

InSight UT: Pets line up to take their pictures with Santa Claus
Tennessee Journalist, TN - 16 hours ago
23 pet owners took their animals to the Agri Feed Pet Supply store to get their pictures taken with Santa Claus. Many owners said they participated in the ...
Have your pet pose with Santa to benefit animal organizations Clarksville Leaf Chronicle
Santa Paws is coming to town State Gazette
all 3 news articles

Middlesex Borough man urges fire safety after losing home, pets to ...
Scarlet Scuttlebutt, NJ - 13 hours ago
By JARED KALTWASSER • Staff Writer • December 3, 2008 MIDDLESEX BOROUGH —When Roland Stanzione first heard the smoke detector go off just before 7 pm on ...

Farragutpress

Holiday leftovers may create dangers for pets
Farragutpress, TN - Dec 3, 2008
Recently, veterinarian Debye Turner Bell spoke on the CBS Early Show cautioning against feeding your pets anything from your Thanksgiving and Christmas ...
Pet as a Christmas gift isn't a good idea Memphis Commercial Appeal
all 2 news articles

Resources