There isn't too much info that I can find online about these fish. Anyone have any experience with them? Any special requirements?
blue flame / Colombian tetras
- Thread starter gnahc79
- Start date
When I had 6 of these I spent some time trying to find info on them as well.
scientific fish data base page for them
no common name is in that data base so I had to do some sleuthing to find the species page. I'll give you the basic information found on that page if you find you don't have the patience to wait for it as the site gets so much traffic that it is slow.
Hyphessobrycon columbianus
Total length 7.0 cm
lives in small creeks
first described scientificly in 2002
From other sources I read that they were collected from so far up the river and so remote an area that they would not be available today if they were hard to breed. unless another collecting trip has been taken all of these tetras available now are from those few fish collected when they were discovered.
Another source mentioned that their life span wasn't quite as long as the other species in that genus. Bleeding hearts, Sepaes, Black Skirts... all have a 6+ year life expectancy but the blue flame tetras only live 5-6 years or so.
in my experience with them only a variety and feeding them well was required to get them to breeding condition. based on my observations I failed to get them to actually breed because of a lack of space and to many other fish in the tank with them. I think a tank would have to be at least 18 inches wide, prefferably 24" wide to allow room for their courtship dance to really get going.
scientific fish data base page for them
no common name is in that data base so I had to do some sleuthing to find the species page. I'll give you the basic information found on that page if you find you don't have the patience to wait for it as the site gets so much traffic that it is slow.
Hyphessobrycon columbianus
Total length 7.0 cm
lives in small creeks
first described scientificly in 2002
From other sources I read that they were collected from so far up the river and so remote an area that they would not be available today if they were hard to breed. unless another collecting trip has been taken all of these tetras available now are from those few fish collected when they were discovered.
Another source mentioned that their life span wasn't quite as long as the other species in that genus. Bleeding hearts, Sepaes, Black Skirts... all have a 6+ year life expectancy but the blue flame tetras only live 5-6 years or so.
in my experience with them only a variety and feeding them well was required to get them to breeding condition. based on my observations I failed to get them to actually breed because of a lack of space and to many other fish in the tank with them. I think a tank would have to be at least 18 inches wide, prefferably 24" wide to allow room for their courtship dance to really get going.
Thanks for the info everyone 
. I'm having a heck of a time trying to get these guys to feed. They hang out near the bottom of the tank most of the time and they don't seem too thrilled with flake food or new spectrum. I'll see how they react to the shrimp.
. I'm having a heck of a time trying to get these guys to feed. They hang out near the bottom of the tank most of the time and they don't seem too thrilled with flake food or new spectrum. I'll see how they react to the shrimp.