Blue dwarf tetra
Tyttocharax cochui
3 cm
Adult size
60 L
Minimum volume
10
Minimum group
4 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Tyttocharax
- Diet
- carnivore and planktivore
- Social life
- shoal
In the wild
Overview
Described in 1950 by the German ichthyologist Werner Ladiges, this small blue tetra barely exceeds 2 cm without the tail. Like Tyttocharax tambopatensis, it belongs to the subfamily Xenurobryconinae, placed since the 2024 revision in the family Stevardiidae.
The species remains little studied: reference sources mainly give its size and general range, without a detailed description of its biology.
- Scientific name
- Tyttocharax cochui (Ladiges, 1950)
- Classification
- Characiformes › Stevardiidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Amazon basin (Brazil, Peru)
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
FishBase places it in the Amazon basin, with known populations in Brazil and Peru. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with small, slow-flowing forest streams.
In the absence of published measurements of its habitats, the parameter ranges in this profile rely on aquarium recommendations for the genus: soft, slightly acidic water, between 23 and 26 °C.
Behaviour
Peaceful and gregarious, it lives in a shoal and should be kept in a group of at least ten. Its small size makes it vulnerable to larger or boisterous companions.
It feeds on small prey (zooplankton, larvae): in the aquarium, very fine live or frozen foods suit it better than flakes.