Mayan tetra facts for kids

The Mayan tetra (scientific name: Hyphessobrycon compressus) is a small, colorful fish. It belongs to a group of fish called tetras, which are part of the Characidae family. This fish is special because it's the most northern type of Hyphessobrycon tetra found.

What Does the Mayan Tetra Look Like?

The Mayan tetra is a shiny silver fish. Its fins are mostly clear, but the base of its top fin (called the dorsal fin) is black. These fish are quite small. They usually grow to be about 4 to 4.5 centimeters long. That's about 1.6 to 1.8 inches, which is shorter than your pinky finger! It looks a bit like the black phantom tetra, but the Mayan tetra is a little bit thinner. It's hard to tell the difference between male and female Mayan tetras. Males are just a tiny bit darker than females. This small difference is called "minimal sexual dimorphism."

Where Do Mayan Tetras Live?

Mayan tetras live in warm waters in Central America. You can find them in the Papaloapan River Basin in southern Mexico. They also live in countries like Belize and northern Guatemala. These fish prefer water that is between 23° and 26 °C (73° to 79 °F). They are "benthopelagic" fish. This means they like to swim and live away from the very top surface of the water.

What Do Mayan Tetras Eat?

Scientists believe that the Mayan tetra is an "opportunistic omnivore." This means it eats both plants and animals. It will also eat whatever food it can find easily in its habitat.

See also

In Spanish: Hyphessobrycon compressus para niños