• Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus
• Synonyms: -
• Common name: Yellow tetra
• Group: Characins
• Habitat: South America; Coastal regions of Brazil, such as those around Rio de Janeiro.
• Size: 4-5 cm
• Biotope: Inhabits in woodland streams, lakes and estuaries of larger rivers.
• Social behavior: A generally peaceful and active shoaling fish. Can be kept in a biotope aquarium.
• Diet: Omnivorous; Mainly eats small invertebrates in nature. Will accept most foods in aquarium, such as small live and frozen foods and flake foods.
• Breeding: Quite easy
• Tank: Minimum 50 litres
• Population: 6-8 fish for 70 litres
• Decoration: Use a river sand substrate, and add some driftwood branches or roots. The tank can be decorated with dried oak or beech leaves. Aquatic plants are uncharacteristic in this species' natural habitat. Use dim lighting.
• Temperature: 20-25 °C
• pH: 5.5-7.5
• Hardness: 5-20 NK°
• Lifespan: 3-5 years

Description: Yellow tetra is an attractive oval-shaped fish. The base color of the fish is silvery grey with a yellow colour in the fins. In their natural habitat the species is sensitive to a particular type of trematode parasite which causes a reaction in the skin of the fish, resulting in a metallic gold colouration. The guanin or gold color occurs frequiently in the wild and are very attractive.

Female is fuller bodied than male. For breeding use a smaller (about 30 litres), separate tank with a clumps of java moss to give the fish something to deposit their eggs, or a plastic grid with a large enough grade so that the eggs can fall through it, and the adults cannot reach them. The water should be slightly soft (gH <8) and acidic (pH 6-7), with a temperature of 24 °C. A small air-powered sponge filter is essential. Yellow tetra can be breed in a small group or in pair. Condition the fish with plenty of small live foods before breeding. Adults are egg scatterers and should be removed after spawn. The eggs will hatch in 24-36 hours, and the fry become free swimming a 3-4 days later. The fry should be fed with infusoria-type food or other small live foods.