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Contents
Overview
The serpae tetra is a characin of about 1.6 inches (4 cm) with a deep, blood-red body, a black shoulder spot behind the gill cover and a black dorsal fin edged in white. It comes from the Paraná-Paraguay basin and parts of the Amazon in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, where it lives in calm, heavily vegetated waters. Today it is farmed in huge numbers, and long-finned and paler color forms are available.
It is hardy, lively and very colorful, so it appeals to many beginners. But it has one big drawback: it is a well-known fin nipper, especially when kept in small groups. Choosing the right tank mates is the key to keeping it without trouble.
Care and tank setup
A school of ten needs at least 20 gallons (80 L), with a filter, a heater and good swimming room. Serpaes are undemanding about water chemistry and tolerate a range of hardness as long as the water stays clean and stable.
- Big school: with ten or more, aggression stays within the group and other species are bothered less. With three or four, they become far more quarrelsome.
- Good tank mates: fast, short-finned fish: corydoras, other robust tetras, danios, similar-sized barbs and loaches.
- Avoid: bettas, angelfish, fancy-tail guppies, slow gouramis and shrimp, which will be harassed or eaten.
- Aquascape: dense plants, driftwood and shaded areas to break up lines of sight.
Do weekly water changes and never add them to an uncycled tank. Never release them into the wild.
Feeding
A greedy omnivore that readily takes flakes, micro pellets and powdered foods and enjoys frozen or live brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms or cyclops. A varied, sufficient diet helps curb its fin-nipping habit. Offer two small meals a day and avoid overfeeding. Add some slow-sinking food as well, because serpaes grab everything the moment it hits the water and bottom dwellers can miss out.
Breeding
Serpaes scatter their eggs among fine plants and give no care. Breeding is fairly easy in a separate tank with soft, slightly acidic water, Java moss or a mesh, and soft lighting. Remove the parents after spawning, since they eat the eggs. The fry need infusoria at first and baby brine shrimp after a few days.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Serpae tetra. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Bronze cory Corydoras aeneus 21 gal (80 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Zebra danio Danio rerio 16 gal (60 L) · 64–77 °F (18–25 °C) 
Cherry barb Puntius titteya 16 gal (60 L) · 73–81 °F (23–27 °C) 
Tiger barb Puntigrus tetrazona 26 gal (100 L) · 72–79 °F (22–26 °C) 
Nerite snail Neritina natalensis 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Horned nerite snail Clithon corona 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Panda cory Corydoras panda 16 gal (60 L) · 68–77 °F (20–25 °C) 
Dwarf gourami Trichogaster lalius 16 gal (60 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Otocinclus catfish Otocinclus vestitus 16 gal (60 L) · 70–79 °F (21–26 °C) 
Platy Xiphophorus maculatus 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Ram cichlid Mikrogeophagus ramirezi 16 gal (60 L) · 79–86 °F (26–30 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Serpae tetra, and why.
- Betta fish: nips long fins
- Common goldfish: one may eat the other due to size
- Angelfish: one may eat the other due to size, nips long fins
- Guppy: nips long fins
- Clown loach: one may eat the other due to size
- Oranda goldfish: one may eat the other due to size, nips long fins
- Oscar: one may eat the other due to size, incompatible temperaments
- Amano shrimp: eats shrimp
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Serpae tetra healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Serpae tetra need?
At least about 80 liters for a group of at least 10 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Serpae tetra need?
Between 22 and 28 °C, with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.
What fish can live with the Serpae tetra?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Bristlenose pleco, Bronze cory, Zebra danio, Cherry barb and Tiger barb. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Serpae tetra be kept with shrimp?
Not recommended: because of its size or instinct, it will eat shrimp.
