Aquarist: Northern_Aquarist

Aquarist Notes

Photo of aquarist's species:

Genetic Line:   Aquarium Strain

Year Acquired:   2025

Fish were donated by the Wet Spot to the 2025 Minnesota Aquarium Society Expo, which is where I acquired them. Initially fish were only labeled as "Lapis Tetra - Hyphessobrycon" and for the better part of a year I had assume that they were H. cyanotaenia. But, once they had fully matured and I had moved them into a 40 gal community tank, they finally started showing their full colors and I was able to more accurately ID them as IMPERIAL Lapis Tetras (H. melanostichos)! I literally bred them before I got them to show their mature colors, it was crazy! I intend to pull them from the community tank and give another try to spawning them in a 20L at some point.

Spawning notes:

Species Spawned:   Yes

Spawned in 10 gal tank with a group of six. Eggs collected with the Penn Plax Aqua-Nursery and HoB breeder-box combo method. Very soft water required, I didn't have a TDS meter at the time, but I was doing nearly 75% RO and 25% tap supplemented with botanicals. Adults fed daily with frozen and high quality dry foods.
According to my BAP submission sheet water parameters were; Temp: 80F, pH: 6.3, KH: 50ppm, GH: 100ppm

Have Reared Fry?   Yes

Eggs kept in the side-mount breeder box until free-swimming with strong mobility, then moved to a fry grow-out bin. Fry started on vinegar eels and eventually transitioned to powdered fry food.