Care
The Loreto Tetra originates from the upper Amazon River basin in Loreto Province, northern Peru. Here it is found in minor tributaries and forest streams that are crowded with dense vegetation, roots, and an abundance of leaf litter. The water in the native habitat is soft and acidic, and stained a tea colour from the tannins in the decaying leaves and wood. The home aquarium should be mature, with a dark substrate and background, with driftwood and plenty of plant cover - both rooted and floating - in order for the fish to feel secure. Filtration should be efficient but water movement gentle. These tetras are best maintained in groups of at least 10, and more than this wherever possible. Occasionally, there may be minor squabbles amongst the group, but providing the tank is spacious and there is a good network of hiding places/visual barriers for them to retreat into if necessary, no real harm should ensue. Tankmates should be of similar size and peaceful temperament and could include other small tetras, hatchetfish, pencilfish, dwarf cichlids, Corydoras catfish, and small loricariids.
Feeding
Flake, micropellets, plus small frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, daphnia, cyclops, and baby brineshrimp (Artemia nauplii).
Breeding
This egg-laying species is relatively easy to breed, and in the confines of a well planted tank, you may see small numbers of young appear from time to time. However if you wish to raise a good number of fry, a small separate breeding aquarium should be set up for the purpose. This tank should also contain soft, acidic water, and the temperature should be set towards the high end of their preferred range. Prior to the spawning attempt, condition your fish on plenty of small meaty live or frozen foods. Clumps of Java moss or a few bunches of fine-leaved plants should be added to the breeding tank to give the fish somewhere to scatter their eggs, and very gentle filtration should be provided via an air-driven sponge filter. No dedicated lighting should be used, as eggs and fry tend to be light sensitive. Acclimatise a mix of both sexes across to the new tank very carefully during the evening, and in the morning, when sunlight hits the tank, spawning should commence. The parents should be removed immediately after spawning ceases as they will predate on the eggs. Some aquarists like to use a fine mesh in the tank so that the scattered eggs can fall to safety, away from the attention of the adult fish. Ideally try and keep the tank in darkness once eggs have been scattered, to protect them and the resultant sensitive young fry from being damaged by bright light. The eggs should hatch within 24-36 hours (temperature dependent) and the young will initially feed from their yolk sacs for a short time. Once free-swimming, microscopic foodstuffs such as infusoria/Paramecium should then be offered, followed by baby brineshrimp (Artemia nauplii) and microworm as they grow.
