Buenos Aires Tetra

Buenos Aires Tetra
(Hemigrammus caudovittatus)

Apparently the natural range of the 'B.A.' Tetra includes temperate districts well to the south of the city after which it is named. I have kept them, on and off, for many years and found them to be low temperature tolerant. The young ones are quite attractive; real "cute" in fact. But they grow up into chunky, obstreperous creatures that chew plants (especially expensive ones) and occasionally chase smaller fish. When their personalities have totally deterioriated I usually exile them to a spare pond on they're own, where they prove to be hardy and long lived. They accept nearly the same conditions as goldfish. They're prolific, spawning much as goldfish do, producing large numbers of eggs; often a thousand or more. A suggested minimum temperature for this species is 8° C. So, bearing in mind all the above, the B.A. Tetra is an excellent "cool tropical'. But I feel sorry for folks who buy young versions of this fish thinking they've got another dainty, peaceful, little tetra like a neon or a cardinal!

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