Colombian Tetra: Price in India and Care Guide
Published: 2026-11-05 · FishyKart Blog
The Colombian tetra (Hyphessobrycon columbianus), also sold as the blue-red Colombian tetra, is a big, bold tetra: silver-blue on the body, with bright red fins. At FishyKart it costs about ₹99-105 per fish. It grows to around 6.5 cm, nearly twice the length of a neon, so it needs a 3 feet tank and a group of 8-10. It is easy to keep in Indian conditions at 20-28°C, which covers most of the year without a heater.
Photo: Marrabbio2 - Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Colombian Tetra Price in India
FishyKart lists this fish under two names. Both are Hyphessobrycon columbianus with the same care needs, so compare the two when you order:
| Listing | Price at FishyKart |
|---|---|
| Colombian Tetra | ₹105 (regular ₹150) |
| Columbian Asian Tetra | ₹99 (regular ₹200) |
Prices change with stock and offers; the product page always shows the current one. Budget for the group, not one fish: 8 Colombian tetras at these prices come to roughly ₹800-850, before the tank.
Care Sheet
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Hyphessobrycon columbianus |
| Origin | Río Acandí, Chocó, northern Colombia, near the Panama border |
| Adult size | Up to 6.5 cm standard length (FishBase: 7 cm total length) |
| Minimum tank | 90 x 30 cm base, about 81 litres (3 feet) |
| Temperature | 20-28°C |
| pH | 5.0-7.5 |
| Hardness | 1-10 dGH |
| Diet | Omnivore: flakes with plant content, bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp |
| Group | 8-10 or more, mixed sexes |
| Status in the wild | IUCN: Data Deficient |
Sources: SeriouslyFish species profile for Hyphessobrycon columbianus; FishBase species summary.
A Tetra From One Small River
Unlike most tetras, which come from the huge Amazon basin, the Colombian tetra is known from a small area in northern Colombia near Panama. FishBase lists it as Data Deficient, meaning there is too little information to judge how common it is in the wild. Almost all fish in the trade are farm bred, which is also why it is cheap and widely available in India.
Setting Up the Tank in India
- Tank size: a 3 feet tank is the starting point. This is an active midwater swimmer; give it open space in the middle and plants at the back and sides.
- Temperature: 20-28°C suits most Indian homes. A heater is useful only in winter in North India or in hill towns. In peak summer, keep the tank away from sunny windows so water stays under about 28°C.
- Water: it prefers soft, slightly acidic to neutral water. Very hard borewell water is outside its range; mix in RO water or use a softer source, and change 25-30% of the water every week.
- Lid: tetras of this size can jump when startled, so keep the tank covered.
Tank Mates
SeriouslyFish calls the Colombian tetra generally peaceful and lists similar-sized tetras, smaller catfish and non-predatory cichlids as tank mates. Good matches sold in India include widow tetras, rummy nose tetras, bloodfin tetras, corydoras, bristlenose plecos, pearl gouramis and angelfish. Avoid tiny fish such as chili rasboras and baby shrimp, which a 6 cm tetra can eat, and big cichlids such as oscars and flowerhorns, which will eat the tetras.
Male vs Female and Breeding
According to SeriouslyFish, males are more brightly coloured, slimmer, slightly smaller and have a longer dorsal fin than females. Like most tetras it is an egg scatterer with no parental care. A well-conditioned female can lay up to about 2000 eggs, which hatch in 24-36 hours. To raise fry, spawn a pair in a separate tank with fine-leaved plants or mesh, remove the parents after spawning, and feed the fry infusoria first, then baby brine shrimp.
Want a smaller, cheaper schooling fish for a 2 feet tank instead? Look at the bloodfin tetra, or browse all types of tetra fish.
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