White-Fin Ornate Tetra (Hyphessobrycon bentosi)

White-Fin Ornate Tetra (Hyphessobrycon bentosi) is a peaceful South American shoaling tetra with a rosy body, dark shoulder marking and elegant black-and-white fin detail. In the UK aquarium trade it may also be called Ornate Tetra, Bentosi Tetra or White-Tip Tetra. These common names refer to the White-Fin Ornate Tetra sold on this page. The familiar aquarium name Hyphessobrycon bentosi is also listed as Megalamphodus bentosi in current references.

One quantity supplies one unsexed fish in the selected approximate size. Plan the aquarium for a proper shoal rather than buying a single fish or pair.

Quick care

Aquarium setup

A mature planted aquarium with open midwater swimming space suits this species well. Use plants, wood and shaded areas around the sides while keeping a clear lane through the middle. A darker substrate and floating cover can improve confidence and make the rosy body and pale fin tips easier to see.

Allow a base area of at least 90 × 30 cm for a group. A larger aquarium makes it easier to keep 8–12 fish and add compatible bottom dwellers. Horizontal swimming length is more useful than a tall narrow aquarium.

Water and filtration

Keep the aquarium around 23–28°C and pH 5.5–7.5, with soft to moderately hard water, around 4–12 dGH. Captive-bred stock can be adaptable, but stability is still more important than trying to move the aquarium rapidly toward one “perfect” figure.

Ammonia and nitrite must remain at zero. Keep nitrate controlled with mature biological filtration, sensible feeding and regular partial water changes. Gentle-to-moderate flow with good surface movement is sufficient; these fish do not need a high-current river setup.

Group behaviour

Keep eight to twelve together where space allows, rather than treating the minimum group as a stocking target. In a proper group males may display to one another by spreading the dorsal and anal fins and making short chases. This is normally social display rather than serious aggression.

A small group can be more nervous and may focus minor chasing on one individual. If a fish is repeatedly isolated, check group size, tank space, water quality and tank mates before assuming the behaviour is normal.

Feeding

Use good-quality fine flakes, micro-pellets or small slow-sinking granules as the staple. Rotate frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops and Artemia for variety. Food particles should be small enough for all members of the shoal to take easily.

Feed modest portions once or twice daily. Spread food across the surface so subordinate fish can feed and remove leftovers before they break down in dense planting.

Tank mates

Good companions include other peaceful small tetras, pencilfish, rasboras and calm bottom dwellers such as suitable Corydoras. Peaceful dwarf cichlids can work in larger aquariums where the water requirements overlap and enough bottom territory remains available.

Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, persistent fin-nipping barbs and fish that need hard alkaline Rift Lake conditions. Adult ornamental shrimp may coexist in a planted aquarium, but tiny shrimplets can be eaten.

Sexing and breeding

Mature males are usually less deep-bodied, slightly smaller and more intensely coloured than females, particularly in the dorsal and anal fins. Young fish are difficult to sex reliably, so this listing remains unsexed.

White-Fin Ornate Tetras are egg scatterers. Breeding is normally attempted in a separate aquarium with soft slightly acidic water, dim lighting and fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Adults may eat the eggs, so they are usually removed after spawning. Fry need very small first foods before moving onto newly hatched Artemia and fine prepared fry diets.

Health and acclimation

A healthy group should remain active, feed readily, breathe evenly and hold open fins. Transport stress can temporarily reduce colour. Persistent clamping, white spots, rapid breathing, weight loss or one fish leaving the group should prompt a water-quality and health check.

Quarantine where possible before adding a new shoal to an established aquarium. Match temperature carefully during acclimation and avoid large chemistry changes on arrival day.

Buying summary

• What you receive: one unsexed White-Fin Ornate Tetra in the selected size.
• Adult size: up to about 4.5 cm standard length (excluding the tail).
• Group: 8–12 together, with adequate swimming space.
• Best home: mature planted community aquarium.
• Water: warm, stable, soft to moderately hard.
• Temperament: peaceful.

If you are comparing other tetra species for a planted display, read the Lemon Tetra and Black Neon Tetra guides. Compare each species’ adult size, group needs and water requirements before choosing your stock.

Before ordering

Choose White-Fin Ornate Tetras if you can provide a mature planted aquarium and a proper group. Reconsider if the aquarium is very small, newly cycled, strongly alkaline or contains predatory fish.

Further reading

The Seriously Fish Ornate Tetra profile provides species-level husbandry information, including adult standard length and recommended aquarium footprint.