Colombian tetra

Hyphessobrycon columbianus, the Colombian tetra, is a robust, mid-sized characin from the Río Acandí and small coastal drainages of the Darién region in northern Colombia, where it lives in clear to lightly stained forest streams. Larger and more powerful than most tetras, it shows a silvery-blue body with striking red fins, and its lively, boisterous nature means it can nip fins, so it is best considered semi-aggressive. Keep it in an active shoal of at least eight in a spacious tank, which curbs squabbling and displays its shimmering colours. It is very hardy and adaptable to a wide range of soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic to neutral water. An eager omnivore, it takes flakes, pellets and frozen or live foods readily. Pair it with similarly sized, fast, robust tankmates rather than small or delicate species.