LEMON TETRA – 柠檬灯

The lemon tetra (scientific name: Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) is a small freshwater fish that can create a big visual impact in your tank. Lemon tetras are native to South America and inhabit parts of the Amazon River. Most often, they can be found dwelling in narrow streams around the Tapajós River basin in Brazil.

A peaceful and hardy fish, the lemon tetra is one of the easier freshwater species to care for. These fish make great additions to community tanks and can thrive in large groups. The appearance of the lemon tetra is both familiar and distinct! They have a similar diamond-shaped body like many other types of tetra species. However, lemons tend to be deeper-bodied and more laterally compressed. Most of the body is semi-transparent. In most specimens, the scales have a pearlescent finish that shines in the light. The caudal fin is transparent and glass-like. Upon closer inspection, you might see a fine black line around the perimeter of the fin that offers more definition. A similar appearance is found on the pectoral fins.

The dorsal and anal fins are where the fish’s vibrancy is most noticeable! Lemon tetras sport a triangular dorsal fin that’s semi-transparent. Splashes of yellow and black cover the fin and add a touch of color! Meanwhile, the pointed anal fin is bolder. The front portion of the fin is bright yellow, but a black line borders the rest. In females, this line is pencil-thin. But for males, the black border is thick and prominent. The appearance of the anal fin is one of the most reliable sexing methods for this fish. Females are usually deeper-bodied, have a compressed dorsal fin, and duller coloration. Other notable physical characteristics include the presence of an adipose fin and the color of the eyes. The adipose fin is very small. It’s located just before the base of the caudal fin. For most lemon tetras, it’s black and yellow.