Community Fish Spotlight: Blueberry Tetra (Hyphessobrycon wadai)
A Hidden Gem for Planted Tanks: Why Blueberry Tetras Deserve a Spot in Your Community Aquarium
There’s a certain kind of beauty in understatement—and the Blueberry Tetra captures it perfectly. These shimmering little fish don’t scream for attention, but in the right light, they absolutely shine.
Originally discovered in the São Francisco River basin in Brazil, Hyphessobrycon wadai was only formally described in 2013. That makes them a relatively new addition to the aquarium hobby, and while they’re still flying a little under the radar, more aquarists are starting to realize just how rewarding this species can be.
When you first see a school of them moving through a planted tank, it’s easy to understand the name. Their subtle purple-blue sheen shifts with the lighting—sometimes catching a deep indigo glow, other times flashing silver or violet as they dart through the water. While they’re not as boldly colored as some of the more common tetras, they bring something else to the table: depth, contrast, and movement that gives an aquascape a more natural and lived-in feel.
Two Blueberry Tetras patrol mid-water together, their tight pairing a glimpse of the social behavior that makes this species so captivating in groups. Their constant movement helps draw shy fish out into the open, adding liveliness to the entire community tank.
A Peaceful Presence in the Tank
Blueberry Tetras are incredibly peaceful and social. They prefer to be in groups and truly come alive when kept in schools of six or more. In smaller numbers, they may hide or act skittish, but with enough companions, their confidence grows and their natural schooling behavior becomes constant and mesmerizing to watch.
They do best in calm community tanks—think soft-bodied fish like Corydoras, Rasboras, Otocinclus, and other small, non-aggressive tetras. They’re also a good match for freshwater snails and even adult dwarf shrimp, especially in tanks that offer lots of plant cover and microhabitats. Like most small fish, they may snack on baby shrimp, but thick mosses and hardscape crevices give shrimplets a good fighting chance.
Plants That Let Them Shine
Because their coloration is reflective and changes with the angle of light, the Blueberry Tetra benefits from tanks with lots of soft lighting and contrasting colors. That means deep green plants make a perfect backdrop. Cryptocoryne wendtii and Anubias barteri are solid choices, especially when attached to driftwood or rock. Java Fern, with its arching leaves, adds a nice midground dynamic.
Close-up of a Bronze Wendtii (Cryptocoryne wendtii) leaf, showing the textured surface and rich copper-green tones that create striking contrast against the iridescent colors of community fish like the Blueberry Tetra.
Stem plants like Limnophila sessiliflora or Rotala rotundifolia help fill vertical space and look great waving above a school of tetras. Floating plants such as Salvinia or Amazon Frogbit can be used to filter the light and create those shimmering, dappled shadows that bring out the iridescence in their scales.
Adding leaf litter from Indian almond leaves or other botanicals creates a more authentic and natural environment while providing added visual warmth that makes their color pop even more. It’s a subtle contrast, but a powerful one.
Aquatic Arts Botanical Combo Pack arranged along the aquarium floor, with leaf litter and small branches creating a warm, natural substrate. This kind of habitat enrichment mimics wild stream beds, offering shelter, biofilm surfaces, and a soft contrast that enhances the colors of mid-water fish.
The Role of Hardscape and Botanicals
While Blueberry Tetras are midwater swimmers and don’t spend much time foraging along the substrate, hardscape still plays a big role in shaping their environment. Using Malaysian driftwood, smooth river stones, or spiderwood to create sight breaks and open corridors helps establish both form and function in the tank. These structures give shy individuals a place to retreat, while also helping the school form tighter, more natural groupings.
Pairing hardscape with botanicals—like casuarina cones, sterculia pods, loofah slices, or coconut husk strips—not only adds visual depth, but also releases beneficial tannins and humic substances. These organic compounds gently tint the water, reduce stress, and mimic the soft, acidic environments Blueberry Tetras originate from.
Botanicals also promote biofilm growth, which becomes a natural grazing surface for shrimp and snails, helping to round out the tank’s ecological balance. If you’re already using botanicals in shrimp tanks or with wild bettas, you’ll find they offer the same value here.
The overall goal is to build a space that reflects their natural rhythms—plenty of cover, varied textures, gentle flow, and clean, stable water conditions.
Feeding and General Care
Blueberry Tetras are not picky eaters, but that doesn’t mean their diet should be basic. A mix of high-quality micro pellets, fine flakes, and frozen or live foods like baby brine shrimp and daphnia will bring out their best colors and activity levels.
They’re omnivores, but tend to lean more toward microfauna and plant-based matter in the wild, so a bit of spirulina or algae-based flake helps round out their nutrition. Feeding small amounts two to three times a day encourages foraging behavior and reduces leftover waste.
They thrive in water temperatures between 72–79°F (22–26°C), with slightly acidic to neutral pH. A gentle sponge filter or canister filter with a spray bar is ideal—these fish don’t want turbulence, but they do need clean, well-oxygenated water.
With the right care, these fish can live for three to five years, and they’re remarkably hardy once settled.
Close-up of live Daphnia in the water column, a nutrient-rich microcrustacean often used as a supplemental food for small community fish like Blueberry Tetras. Their constant movement triggers natural hunting behavior and provides protein, vitamins, and fiber for improved coloration and vitality.
Common Questions About Blueberry Tetras (Q&A)
Are Blueberry Tetras easy to care for?
Yes, they are hardy and adaptable, making them a great choice for beginners. Their peaceful nature and schooling behavior also make them ideal for community tanks.
How many Blueberry Tetras should I keep together?
A minimum of six is recommended, but larger groups (10–12 or more) create more natural schooling behavior and reduce stress.
What tank size is best for Blueberry Tetras?
A 10-gallon tank is the minimum, but a 20-gallon long or larger tank gives them more swimming space and better stability for community setups.
Do Blueberry Tetras change color?
Their iridescence can shift depending on lighting, background, and mood. In well-planted tanks with soft lighting, their blue and violet tones are more pronounced.
Can I keep Blueberry Tetras with shrimp?
They are safe with adult shrimp like Neocaridina or Amano Shrimp. However, they may eat baby shrimp unless the tank is heavily planted with hiding spots.
Do Blueberry Tetras need a heater?
Yes. As tropical fish, they require consistent warm temperatures. A heater ensures a stable environment between 72–79°F.
Are they wild-caught?
Most Blueberry Tetras in the hobby are tank-bred, making them a more sustainable and aquarium-adapted option compared to wild-caught fish.
Can they be bred in home aquariums?
They can, but breeding is more likely to succeed in species-only tanks with soft, acidic water and fine-leaved plants for egg-scattering. No parental care is given.
What do Blueberry Tetras eat?
A balanced diet of micro pellets, crushed flakes, frozen daphnia, baby brine shrimp, and algae-based foods will keep them healthy and colorful.
Do Blueberry Tetras get along with other fish?
Absolutely. They are peaceful and do best with other calm, small fish. Avoid aggressive or fast-moving species that might outcompete them for food.
If you’re the type of aquarist who loves watching schooling fish behave as they would in nature—forming shifting, fluid clusters that seem to breathe with the current—the Blueberry Tetra is worth a closer look. They may not be the loudest fish in your tank, but they just might become your favorite.
