Red Phantom Tetra (Hyphessobrycon sweglesi)

Bring a splash of vibrant color and graceful movement to your aquarium with the Red Phantom Tetra. Known for their striking translucent red bodies and distinctive black "phantom" spot behind the gills, these peaceful schooling fish are a favorite for both beginners and experienced aquascapers alike.

Origin

The Red Phantom Tetra is native to the upper Orinoco River basin in South America, spanning parts of Colombia and Venezuela. They are typically found in slow-moving river tributaries and flooded forests where the water is soft, acidic, and stained with tannins.

Care and Environment

To see the best colors and natural behavior, Red Phantom Tetras should be kept in a well-established aquarium.

• Tank Size: A minimum of 20 gallons is recommended to provide enough swimming space for a school.

• Water Parameters: They thrive in temperatures between 20°C to 24°C, making them slightly more tolerant of cooler water than many other tropical fish. Aim for a pH between 5.5 and 7.5.

• Setup: Provide a heavily planted environment with plenty of hiding spots using driftwood and leaf litter. Darker substrate and floating plants help dim the light, which makes the fish feel secure and enhances their deep red coloration.

Feeding

These fish are omnivores and are not picky eaters. In the home aquarium, they will readily accept:

• High-quality flake foods and micro-pellets.

• Frozen or live treats such as brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms to improve vibrancy and health.

Tank Mates

The Red Phantom Tetra is a social species and must be kept in groups of at least 6 to 10 individuals. Keeping them in a school reduces stress and encourages the males to display "sparring" behavior, where they flare their fins at one another without causing harm.

• Compatible Mates: Other peaceful community fish such as Corydoras, Rasboras, small Gouramis, and other peaceful Tetras. Avoid large or aggressive tank mates that may see them as prey.

Breeding

Breeding Red Phantom Tetras is achievable for those with some experience. They are egg-scatterers. A separate breeding tank with soft, acidic water and fine-leaved plants (like Java Moss) is required. Once spawning occurs, the parents should be removed to prevent them from eating the eggs. The fry will hatch in about 24 to 36 hours and require infusoria or liquid fry food as their first meal.

PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING

• The photos shown on fish product pages are representations of adult fish and are NOT the actual fish that you will be receiving. 
• Please visit our “Ordering/Shipping fish” page prior to checking out to familiarize yourself with our process.
• We ship fish exclusively using overnight shipping with either FedEx or UPS. We will not ship fish with lesser expensive shipping services like “Ground” or “Priority Mail”. This is to ensure the safety of the fish. 
• Unless specified, all fish are sold as unsexed.