▷ Copper Tetras in the Aquarium | All information, keeping and breeding

Copper tetra data sheet

German name:
Copper Tetra

Scientific name:
(Hasemania nana

Origin:

Size:
5 cm

Aquarium

Length:
80 cm

Contents:
From 112 liters

Lighting:
Shady

Furnishings:

water values

Temperature:

22-28ºC

PH value:
6 – 7

Behave

Number:
7

Area:
center

propagation:
egglayer

Lining:
omnivore

Behave:

Difficulty level:
Schooling fish, slightly territorial

The display behavior of copper tetras

Malene Thyssen (User Malene), Kobbertetra Hasemania nana, CC BY-SA 3.0

When copper tetras feel comfortable, they form small territories in the middle of the tank. They only form a swarm when they are scared.

The males are in relatively fixed positions in the aquarium. These small territories are defended against other males.

The males face each other side by side, 5 to 10 centimeters apart, but head to tail. Both males tremble with raised fins. A few quick swimming movements follow. Then both take their positions again.

After a few minutes, they sometimes chase each other around the aquarium for a few laps. Then the display behavior starts all over again.
This behavior is mostly seen in the evening.

On such days there is usually no spawning, even if there are females in the tank who are ready to spawn.

The gender differences

In good husbandry conditions, males are clearly copper-colored. Females are lighter and more brassy in color.

breed

Copper tetras reproduce well under the right conditions. In a small swarm, eggs are released almost every day, mostly in the evening hours.

Animals ready to spawn separate themselves from the other copper tetras. They start nodding and drive away all the other fish except for another copper tetra. Both animals circle each other for a very long time and swim around together.

This behavior is a clear sign that mating is imminent. If left unperturbed, the pair will eventually swim to their favorite spot and spawn. The eggs are as small as grains of sand.

10 – 30 eggs are laid per «issue» of the female. Coppery tetra eggs are transparent. From a distance you cannot see that the animals are laying eggs. But you can also tell by the fact that they always make twitching movements, then eggs are laid. But this does not always have to happen in the same place!

If offspring are to be raised, it is easy to recognize fish that are willing to mate, and the pairs can be caught and placed in a separate spawning tank.

Copper tetras need space.

Copper salmer need sufficient free swimming space. The animals want to hunt, romp and swim. If they can’t, they become uncomfortable.

They then constantly shoo all other animals around, even catfish and guppies.

If copper tetras have enough space, they are peaceful. Copper tetras kept in a larger group of more than 20 animals are so self-absorbed that they do not bother other animals.