Long finned red minor tetras

[Mariah]

I just wanted to know if anyone else has these fish and what you think of them? I have some and think there really pretty

 

[The-Wolf]

I have never heard of them but a quick google turned up
Hyphessobrycon eques Jewel Tetra aka minor tetra.
I'm assuming the longfins are a man made strain. Looks quite nice, but fishbase state they can be aggressive, so keep your eye out for nipped fins.

 

[Lateral Line]

"Minor" comes from earlier classifications. The fish was formerly known as Hyphessobrycon callistus minor. The other subspecies of Hyphessobrycon callistus was "serpae". The 2 subspecies were rationalised to simply Hyphessobrycon callistus. At some later time, this has been synonymised with Hyphessobrycon eques.

The fin extensions are a man made trait, not found in nature.

Quite aggressive little sods they can be, although the long fins hamper them somewhat.

 

[Mariah]

Hey,
Ive been watching them and so far they seem ok... I hope there ok once I add some other fish! The girl at the lps said they were a "commuity" fish... Hmmm maybe she didnt know what she was talking about? I will have to keep my eyes open than
You say they are man made? Is that a good or bad thing? Because I saw these other tetras that were whiteish and some goldish and they had long fins as well. I was hoping to get some eventally....

 

[Lateral Line]

I had some, (not long finned), about 30 years ago in a "community tank". They were easy enough to keep and feed, but they terrorised the other fish in my tank. I've never had them again.

 

[Mariah]

Hmm I hope they are ok... What fish did you have in your tank with them?

 

[The-Wolf]

You say they are man made? Is that a good or bad thing?

this just means they have been selectivly bred to bring out the long fins; this also means they are heavily inbred so they will be less hardy than the std ones.

 

[sylvia]

They aren't literally 'man-made' - like The Wolf said, it only means they've been selectively bred over many generations to have longer and longer fins. Kind of like the various breeds of dogs, cats, livestock etc. Though it may mean they are a little in-bred, it isn't realy a bad thing strictly speaking though it may well men they have slightly weaker immune systems compared to the wild-type fish. Anyway, the reason I posted was realy to say that the other long-finned tetras you saw don't necessarily have to be selectively bred. Black phantom tetras, angelfish, pearl gouramies etc are all fish with long fins - they occur like this naturaly in the wild.

When it comes to truly 'man-made' fish, I guess we'd be talking about unatural hybrids like flowerhorns, jellybeans parrots and blood parrots etc. That's a completely different topic altogether...

And then there's dyed fish which I would say is deffinately wrong - not even debateable.

 

[Mariah]

Thanks for the info Does anyone have these fish? If so what fish do you have them with?

 

[Mariah]

No one has these fish? They are so beautifull!

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> They aren't literally 'man-made'

Errrrr.....

>>> they've been selectively bred over many generations

... so they are, in fact, a totally man made variety. True, they are not as bad as some of the other monstrosities you mention, but they are a fast swimming, streamlined fish that has been corrupted to produce long "in the way" fins for the purpose of attracting humans.

Man Made by definition. A freak, that nature would have destroyed.

 

[Mariah]

I think they are nipping at my cherry barbs fins.... I dont have any where else to put them at the moment so they will have to stay there....