Super Red Phantom Tetra (Wild Caught) - Hyphessobrycon Sweglesi

Straight From the Wild — Colour Like No Other

The Super Red Phantom Tetra is one of the most striking small fish in the hobby, and wild-caught specimens take that to another level entirely. Collected from the Orinoco River basin in Colombia and Venezuela, these fish display an intensity of red colouration that tank-bred specimens rarely match — vivid, almost glowing, with a bold black patch behind the gills and deep red fins that shimmer as they move through the water.

Small but full of personality, they are lively, active swimmers that look absolutely spectacular in a well-planted aquascape, especially in a large school.

Why Wild Caught?

Wild-caught fish carry the full expression of their natural colouration, shaped by the tannin-stained blackwater rivers they come from. If you want the deepest, richest red this species has to offer, wild-caught is the way to go.

Care at a Glance

• Adult size: approximately 3–4 cm (1.2–1.5 inches)
• Minimum tank size: 60–80 litres (15–20 gallons)
• Temperature: 22–28°C (72–82°F)
• pH: 5.5–7.5 — thrives toward the softer, more acidic end
• Best kept in groups of 8 or more — schooling brings out their best colours and behaviour
• Lifespan: 3–5 years with good care

Tank Setup

These fish come from slow-moving, heavily vegetated waterways with subdued lighting and soft, slightly acidic water. A planted tank with gentle filtration, driftwood, and leaf litter will help them settle in quickly and display their best colouration. Dark substrate and floating plants to diffuse light make a noticeable difference.

Feeding

Omnivores with a healthy appetite. They readily accept high-quality micro flakes or small sinking granules as a staple, and will benefit greatly from regular offerings of frozen or live foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, and cyclops — which also enhances their red colouration.

Compatible With

• Other small, peaceful tetras and rasboras
• Corydoras and small loaches
• Dwarf cichlids such as apistogrammas
• Shrimp — exercise caution with very small species