Tetry

As she thought about it, she was now sure that she had to get an aquarium at home no matter what. She liked the idea of having at least one school of fish from the tetra family at home. In her search for which species to focus on, this was the most frequently mentioned family: Characidae, or tetras. It's a huge group that includes species sought after by both novice aquarists and experts worldwide. What she liked most about them were the amazing shapes—sometimes like a torpedo, other times more rounded—and especially the colors. Is it even possible how colorful the word tetra is becoming?

On the other hand, tetra comes from the Greek word for four, because most species have exactly four fins. That's a less romantic association. How about, for example, the Red Tetra—Hyphessobrycon flammeus—or the neon tetras, which Anja had always liked and felt were significant and revered by locals in Brazil when she saw the huge number of costumes at the local festival in the colors of these beautiful, yet so common, creatures for many aquarists. The Cardinal Tetra—Paracheirodon axelrodi—or the Neon Tetra—Paracheirodon innesi—can create an amazing atmosphere with their schooling behavior, and the darker the environment, the more they stand out.

Theoretically, tetras should be relatively easy to care for. Prague water, with some minor adjustments, should be acceptable. A pH between 5.5 and 7.5, with them thriving in soft to moderately hard water. Temperature between 22 and 27°C. The diet should be balanced. There are quality foods on the market specifically for tetras, but let's be honest, which fish would resist when the aquarist offers them daphnia or mosquito larvae, or brine shrimp, and ideally everything alive.

Tetras are schooling fish. They originate mainly from South America (think of the Igapó region), but also from Africa and Central America. When looking at how big a tetra can generally get, you'll find that they usually grow from 2.5 to 6.5 cm.

First, it will be necessary to decide on the size of the aquarium. It is already clear that she will try to make it biotope-friendly, so that the inhabitants thrive, are healthy, and, if she dares to call it that, happy. To start with, she will suggest a 100-liter aquarium. It seems to be a suitable size for most smaller fish. The next step will be to identify a suitable place for the aquarium.