Green Line Lizard Tetra

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Widespread across the Amazon, Orinoco, and Essequibo basins. Lives exclusively in the upper levels of slow to moderately flowing forest streams, often holding position under floating vegetation.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Highly aberrant Characin shape (10 cm). Looks like a cross between a pencilfish and a small pike: extremely elongated, cylindrical, hydrodynamic body. Mouth features multicuspid teeth for grazing plant matter or fallen insects.

Social Behavior: Schooling fish (minimum 6-8). Stays in the upper half of the tank. Extremely fast and darting swimmer. Males perform stunning parallel fin-flaring displays. Peaceful to everyone, but becomes neurotic and glass-surfs in tanks that are too short.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Silver-olive base, sliced horizontally by a brilliant, razor-thin neon green stripe, sometimes bordered by pale red/orange. Small black spot at the tail base. Males develop reddish anal/pelvic fins and microscopic mating hooks.

Tank Setup: Demands LENGTH. A school needs a 100-120+ cm long tank due to their explosive surface acceleration. TIGHT LID IS MANDATORY: they are phenomenal jumpers and will escape through tiny gaps. Floating plants (Frogbit) to dim the light and provide overhead security are highly recommended.

Feeding: Omnivore with strong Herbivorous tendencies. In nature, they eat a lot of algae and plant matter. Will eat floating flakes/pellets, but MUST be given a green component (Spirulina, blanched veg) or they will shred soft aquarium plants or duckweed.

Water Quality: Adaptable but requires clean water. Prefers acidic to neutral water: pH 5.5-7.0 (tolerates up to 7.5). Soft to medium hardness. 23-27°C. Keep nitrates low.

Compatibility: Perfect, unusual dither fish for Amazonian communities (Corydoras, Apistogramma, Plecos). Unfit for large cichlids (Angelfish, Discus) which will view their cylindrical bodies as perfect prey.

Reproduction: Rare in home aquaria. Egg-scatterers in fine-leaved plants. Requires very soft/acidic water and immediate removal of parents.

Risks: 1. Jumping to their death (the #1 cause of loss). 2. Fatal snout injuries from crashing into the glass when spooked in small tanks. 3. Constipation/bloat if fed an all-meat diet without greens.