Tetra | Red Eye Tetra

Scientific Name: Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Common Name: Lamp Eye Tetra, Yellow-banded Moenkhausia, Red Eye Tetra

Adult Size: 2.8 inches

Life Expectancy: 5 years

Habitat: South America

Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallon

Ideal Tank Conditions: 

• Temperature Range: 72.0 to 82.0° F
• pH Range:
• Hardness Range:

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet & Nutrition: Omnivore; will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance, give them a high quality flake food every day. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat. Vegetables should be offered regularly to bring out the best of its color and appearance. Spinach is a great choice for this fish.

Breeding & Spawning: Egg layers and easy to breed. The female releases about a dozen eggs at time and the male fertilizes them. A separate breeding tank will help to get the best number of fry. A 20 gallon spawning tank is fine, with a temperature of 80 to 84° F. Keep the tank dimly lit with clumps of spawning mops or java moss so the female has a place to deposit the eggs. A layer of mesh also works as long as the spaces are wide enough for the eggs to pass through and small enough to keep the parents out.

Gender: The only truly distinguishing feature to differentiate the sexes is the more rounded stomach of a mature female.

Compatible Tank Mates: See Compatibility Chart