Emperor Tetra

Nematobrycon palmeri

The Emperor Tetra (*Nematobrycon palmeri*) is a true 'crown jewel' among large Characins. Devoid of the adipose fin (an unusual fact for tetras), it sports a stocky, majestic and regal physiognomy, embellished in males by iridescent purple and violet-blue reflections on silver, and by a flashy electric blue eye. A deep and thick bluish-black band runs parallel along the entire body extending onto the tail. Reaching a majestic 6 cm (2.5 inches), the adult male boasts exaggerated prolongations (similar to swords) on the central rays of the caudal fin, resembling the tail of a swallow or a trident. Extremely long-lived (up to 6 years) and very robust, they dominate the middle zone of the tank unchallenged with a unique visual arrogance, not behaving at all like typical small schooling fish.

Family: Characidae
Origin: Sud America (Endemico dei bacini idrografici del Rio Atrato e San Juan in Colombia)
Tank use: Used in 0 tanks

Temperature

23 °C - 27 °C

5 - 7.5

Water type

Freshwater

Tank level

Zona media e superiore. Si appostano orgogliosamente al centro della colonna d'acqua stazionando in posizione statica di controllo.

Adult size

6 cm

Description

Surface Mosquito Hunters:

Unlike the other bottom schooling fish, the Emperor has an incredible eye, a mouth suited to the surface and feline reflexes. If you have the patience to throw a small dead fruit fly or mosquito (even alive) into the tank, the male will dart from the bottom at an unimaginable speed harpooning it forcefully even before it sinks.

Care and observations

A Solitary Tetra that Hates the School:

If you buy a group of Emperors hoping they swim in a line like Neon Tetras or Rummy-noses, you have made the wrong purchase. Emperors hate staying united. The males will evenly divide the tank in mid-air, creating individual "invisible fences" (permanent territories). They will remain motionless proudly guarding their territory, only to furiously dart in a magnificent display of violence if another male gets too close, chasing each other until the intruder retreats.

The Harem and the Long Tail Rule:

The male of this species has the reproductive and possessive instinct of a Cichlid. He will never stop chasing and harassing to mate the only female found in his territory. If the female does not rest or has no other companions to share the male's attention with, she could get sick from excessive stress. You must strictly buy a Harem: 3 or 4 females for every single colored male. Males have a splendid central tail much longer (a spear in the middle of the normal tail), protect them from Tiger Barbs and biting fish that would completely remove it.

Pay Attention to the Sad or Blue Eye:

The sexual dimorphism (male/female difference) is among the most unique in the animal world and visible to the naked eye already from the store, to avoid number errors: the male is very large, has very strong blue and purple reflections on the black body, and HIS EYE SHINES ELECTRIC BLUE. The female is smaller, tending to a faded-yellowish brown, and her small eye is EMERALD GREEN/YELLOW in color.

Fish profile

Temperament: Gerarchico e Moderatamente Territoriale (nei maschi). I Tetra Imperatore non formano un banco (schooling) compatto, formando vere e proprie piccole arene permanenti (Leks) e territori a mezza altezza dove aspettano le femmine o ingaggiano finte lotte cerimoniali coi rivali, disinteressandosi totalmente alle altre specie.
Diet: Micropredatore/Onnivoro. Cacciatori a vista micidiali per piccoli insetti. Necessitano di una dieta proteica mista per esaltare i riflessi viola (scaglie color-enhancing, artemia congelata, dafnia e piccole drosofile buttate in superficie).
Tank level: Zona media e superiore. Si appostano orgogliosamente al centro della colonna d'acqua stazionando in posizione statica di controllo.
Minimum group: 6
Adult size: 6 cm
Minimum tank: 100 L
GH: 1 dGH - 12 dGH
KH: n/a
TDS: n/a
Conductivity: n/a
Sex ratio: Harem raccomandato (2-3 femmine per ogni maschio). I maschi dominanti sono aggressivi tra loro e stressano le femmine; diluire le attenzioni inserendo più femmine ne salvaguarda la salute. Il dimorfismo è pazzesco: Il maschio è un gigante con iridescenze viola/blu, occhio blu, e coda a forma di 'Tridente' alungata al centro. Le femmine sono minute, giallo-verdognole e con occhio verde smeraldo.
Feeding frequency: 1-2 volte al giorno. Forti mangiatori in superficie, molto reattivi alla caduta del mangime.
Bioload: Medio-Basso
Flow: Corrente da Moderata a Debole. Non sono amanti di turbolenze estreme, provenendo da fiumi forestali ombreggiati a lento deflusso in Colombia.
Reproduction: Allevamento molto più accessibile rispetto agli altri Tetra. In vasche monospecifiche ben piantumate con Riccia fluitans o Java moss (dove disperdono quotidianamente uova sferiche), gli avannotti nasceranno naturalmente sul fondo senza grande predazione genitoriale.
Compatibility: Pessimi come 'dither fish' a causa della loro totale assenza di volo in branco se spaventati (piuttosto si nascondono a terra). Ideali in enormi vasche di comunità sudamericane per abbellire la parte medio/alta. Assolutamente incompatibili con 'fin-nippers' (Tetra Serpae, Barbi Tigre) che asporterebbero costantemente le maestose "spade" centrali dalla coda dei maschi.

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

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Live aquarium/observation photo from iNaturalist for Nematobrycon palmeri.