At the moment we can offer magnificent, fully grown bred specimens of Hyphessobrycon melanostichos.
Hyphessobrycon melanostichos is very eye-catching due to its bright sky-blue back coloration. The species was scientifically described in 2006 from the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, where it occurs in the upper drainage of the Rio Tapajós. The species is distinguished from all other Hyphessobrycon species by the combination of the following features: a broad, black longitudinal band that begins at the posterior margin of the eye and extends to the posterior margin of the caudal fin; an oval shoulder spot; 16-18 soft fin rays in the anal fin.
It is very interesting that in this fish, similar to Hemigrammus coeruleus, the males develop a distinctly different coloration during courtship; many thanks to Peter & Martin Hoffmann for providing us with the picture of a courtship active male. Such changes in coloration are unusual in tetras of the Hemigrammus-Hyphessobrycon group, usually the colors intensify only insignificantly during courtship.
For our customers: H. melanostichos has code 261834 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.
Text: Frank Schäfer, Photos: Frank Schäfer, Peter & Martin Hoffmann
Literature:
Carvalho, T. P. and V. A. Bertaco (2006): Two new species of Hyphessobrycon (Teleostei: Characidae) from upper rio Tapajós basin on Chapada dos Parecis, central Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology v. 4 (no. 3): 301-308.
