Hyphessobrycon takasei
The caffeine tetra naturally inhabits the Rio Araguari and Rio Oyapok river basins in French Guiana and Brazil, South America. The fish are found in slow-flowing streams and floodplain lakes.
The body of Hyphessobrycon takasei is pale in color, but can range from pale orange to almost white with a bluish sheen in the right light. On the sides behind the gill plates is a large oval black spot, shaped like a coffee bean, which gave the fish its name. The dorsal fin also has a dark spot. The anal fin is pale orange, the pelvic fins are yellow, and the tail plumage is pale yellow. The iris of the eyes with a dark vertical stripe. Males are slightly smaller and slimmer than females. Females have a rounded abdomen. The size of fish reaches 3-4 cm.
Hyphessobrycon takasei peaceful, gregarious fish, which can easily be kept in a common aquarium with other commensurate in size peace-loving fish. Keep better a flock of 6-8 fish. For such a number of fish suitable aquarium of 60 liters.
The aquarium should be sufficient space for swimming. On the sides of the aquarium planted a few tall bushes of plants. As the substrate used sand or a mixture of sand and fine gravel. At the bottom are a few snags.
Water parameters: temperature 22-27° C, hardness dH 2-14°, acidity pH 5,5-7,4. Requires filtration, aeration and weekly replacement of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh. The water current in the aquarium should be minimal.
Hyphessobrycon takasei is omnivorous. In the aquarium, fish are fed live and frozen daphnia, artemia, moths, as well as flake and pelleted food containing spirulina. The food is given twice a day.
Reproduction
Hyphessobrycon takasei are spawning fish that show no parental concern for their eggs or fry.
Mature fish in suitable conditions will spawn periodically in the aquarium without any special measures for this, but as a result only a small number of fry will survive. In order to keep the stock of fry need to breed fish in a separate spawning tank.
The spawning aquarium should be a dim light at the bottom should be stretched separator mesh or placed a few bushes of small-leaved plants, such as Vesicularia dubyana. The water should be soft, slightly acidic or neutral, with a temperature of 26-28° C.
Pisces can be bred in small groups or pairs, but after spawning adults should be removed from the aquarium, as they can eat the eggs. The number of eggs can reach several hundred.
The starting food for the fry are infusoria, and after a week begin to give them artemia. Feed the fry 4 times a day.
Life expectancy Hyphessobrycon takasei is about 3-4 years.