Fun Coffee Bean Tetra Facts For Kids
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Coffee bean tetras are peaceful shoaling fish species that have a stunning appearance. These lovely fish have the scientific name Hyphessobrycon takasei.
Ironically, these cute-looking, harmless fish belong to the same family as the notorious piranha fish species, the Characidae family! The major distinguishing characteristic of coffee bean tetras is their striking black-colored oval mark that is located behind the gill plate, on the side of their body.
Their common name 'coffee bean tetra' is thanks to this mark as it is similar to the shape of a coffee bean! Their dorsal fin (upper fin) also exhibits a dark-colored spot.
The mesmerizing coffee bean tetras are omnivores and eat an extensive variety of foods comprising both plant matter and invertebrates. Coffee bean tetras exhibit sexual dimorphism (variation in size among the sexes of species) and females of this species are stronger and rounder than males!
Males are tinier and more slender. These fish make excellent pets and can be kept in aquariums. Keep reading to get to know more about this spectacular tetra, the coffee bean tetra!
If you enjoy reading about the coffee bean tetra, then you will surely love reading about the golden tetra and the Buenos Aires tetra.
Coffee Bean Tetra Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a coffee bean tetra?
Coffee bean tetras are a peaceful shoaling freshwater fish species that belong to the family Characidae. Their scientific name is Hyphessobrycon takasei.
Because of their temperament, they can be kept in an aquarium and are lovely pets. These fish have a spectacular appearance and a bold characteristic that gives them their common name. They are omnivores in nature with their diet comprising plant matter and invertebrates.
What class of animal does a coffee bean tetra belong to?
This fish is a ray-finned fish that is a striking member of the Actinopterygii class.
How many coffee bean tetras are there in the world?
The population of this fish has not been evaluated yet. However, it is believed that they are endemic in their locations.
Where does a coffee bean tetra live?
These magnificent fish species inhabit slow-moving rivers as well as floodplain lakes in South America. They can be found in French Guiana and Brazil in the Rio Oyapock river and the Rio Araguari river basin.
What is a coffee bean tetra's habitat?
This fish inhabits soft acidic water that has a pH of 5.5-7.8. Its temperature preference ranges between 71.6-78.8 F (22-26 C ).
The water's hardness level must be between 10-25 GH. When kept in an aquarium, coffee bean tetras like open space to swim and long plants behind which they can hide, thus, the tank must be mature and possess a filter of high quality.
This species does not appreciate strong currents. It likes to live in slow-moving, soft-acidic waters.
They don't appreciate bright lights as well so the aquarium must be dim-lit, preferable with tannin. Decoration of the aquarium with driftwood branches or roots will be preferable as this will create shade and mean that the color of the water will resemble their natural habitat.
Who do coffee bean tetras live with?
Coffee bean tetras are normally found swimming in schools of fish.
How long does a coffee bean tetra live?
These stunning creatures can live for three to five years.
How do they reproduce?
They are egg-scatterers and free spawners. They can lay a few hundred eggs. After their eggs hatch, they provide no parental care to their offspring.
The fry can be given small live foods or liquid foods to consume. Hyphessobrycon takasei can be bred in a separate breeding tank for a significant number of fry to appear. This tank must have a mesh at the bottom which can protect the eggs from getting consumed by the adult fish.
Alternatively, fine-leaved plants like Java moss can also be used to cover the substrate. It also must be dimly lit as this species prefers dim lighting. Adults must be separated from the eggs as they might consume them.
What is their conservation status?
This species' population hasn't been assessed by the IUCN. However, they are believed to be endemic in their region of occurrence.
Coffee Bean Tetra Fun Facts
What do coffee bean tetras look like?
This charming tetra has a shape that looks quite like that of the serpae tetra. It has a translucent orange to white-colored body. In the best light, it exhibits a blue iridescence.
One of its defining characteristics is the coffee bean-shaped oval dark-colored spot which gives this species its common name. This spot is located behind the gill plate, on the side of their body. Their anal fin has a pale orange color, whereas their pelvic and caudal fins are colored in shades of yellow.
Their dorsal fin (upper fin) also exhibits a dark-colored spot. A vertical stripe runs through their eye. Females of this species, as compared to males, are rounder and stronger.
*Please note that this is an image of an ornate tetra, not a coffee bean tetra. If you have an image of a coffee bean tetra, please let us know at hello@kidadl.com.
How cute are they?
These small creatures are quite cute. They have a magnificently colored body that has a metallic shine, giving them a sparkly glow!
How do they communicate?
These creatures communicate with each other by wagging their fins.
How big is a coffee bean tetra?
Coffee bean tetras range between 1.1-1.5 in (3-4 cm) in length. They are similar in size to neon tetras.
How fast can a coffee bean tetra swim?
They are average-speed swimmers that inhabit slow-moving water bodies. However, their exact speed isn't known.
How much does a coffee bean tetra weigh?
Coffee bean tetras weigh between o.005-0.006 oz (0.14-0.17 g).
What are the male and female names of the species?
They do not have any particular name as per their gender.
What would you call a baby coffee bean tetra?
A baby of this species is known as fry.
What do they eat?
These creatures are omnivores and have a wide range of foods in their diet including plants, pellet, flake, live foods, or frozen foods like brine shrimp as well as daphnia. When kept in an aquarium, they have to be supplied with food twice a day.
They can adapt to various kinds of good-quality dried and frozen foods. Predators that prey upon coffee bean tetras specifically are not known. However, we do know that fish, eels, and crustaceans prey upon the wider group of tetras.
Are they dangerous?
No, coffee bean tetras (Hyphessobrycon takasei) aren't dangerous at all.
Would they make a good pet?
Yes, they make excellent pets and thrive in a tank given that it has proper lighting, a good quality filter, lots of plants, and the perfect water requirements.
Did you know...
Humans do not eat the lovely coffee bean tetras.
Which fishes can be kept with coffee bean tetras?
Coffee bean tetras can be kept with peaceful and tiny fish of similar sizes like the Cory catfish, small dwarf cichlids, pencil fish, and suckermouth catfish. Their mates in the tank must be peaceful like them because rowdy fish in the same tank can intimidate coffee bean tetras easily.
How many coffee bean tetras can be kept together?
They must be kept in a group comprising of over at least six fish, however, eight to 10 are preferable for a 13.2 gal (60 L) tank. The male to female coffee bean tetras ratio must be 1:2.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish from our green sunfish facts or scorpionfish facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable coffee bean tetra coloring pages.
*Please note that the main image is of a neon tetra, not a coffee bean tetra. If you have an image of a coffee bean tetra, please let us know at hello@kidadl.com.
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