Home · Characidae · Forest tetra
Forest tetra (Bryconamericus sylvicola) — Characidae

Forest tetra

Bryconamericus sylvicola
Family: Characidae

The Forest tetra (Bryconamericus sylvicola) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
6.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

Description

The forest tetra is a small South American characin (Characidae) from clear fresh water of forest streams in South America. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a slender, silvery body with a fine dark longitudinal stripe and a spot on the tail base. As a schooling fish it swims in clear, flowing streams and snaps at insects, larvae, algae and small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Forest tetra?

The Forest tetra has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Forest tetra live?

The Forest tetra lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Forest tetra get?

The Forest tetra grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Forest tetra dangerous to humans?

No, the Forest tetra is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Bos-tetra sourced
English name
Forest tetra sourced
Scientific name
Bryconamericus sylvicola
Family
Characidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Bryconamericus

More from the family Characidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →