Fish Identification

**spaceboy** · 24th Jan 2012, 23:21

I bought 5 of these under the name Fire Phantom Tetra, but I couldn't find any info listed with that name. Does anyone know the scientific name?

**Johora** · 24th Jan 2012, 23:29

Hyphessobrycon sweglesi - Red Phantom Tetra

**spaceboy** · 24th Jan 2012, 23:36

Johora, actually they're not..... I have these guys with Black Phantoms and Red Phantoms and they are definitely different from them. I'll try to take a pic of them together so you can compare.

**stormhawk** · 25th Jan 2012, 00:58

This is Megalamphodus megalopterus, not Hyphessobrycon sweglesi. The fish in the photo is a female. Males do not have the reddish tinge to the fins and have a much longer dorsal fin. See the following photos by Shadow showing male and female Phantom Tetras:

Male

Female

I don't know how the females can be given a brand new name like Fire Phantom Tetra.

**spaceboy** · 25th Jan 2012, 06:59

Stromhawk, this is not the female Megalamphodus megalopterus/Hyphessobrycon megalopterus/Black Phantom Tetra. It is a common mistake. Believe me, I wouldnt have paid the price I did for a female.

If you look carefully, the female as described "the dorsal fin of females is shorter and they possess red/orange edges to the adipose, ventral and anal fins. Females also tend to have a somewhat stockier profile than males."

The picture of the Fire Phantom Tetra above I believe is a Male which can be identified by the extended dorsal and anal fins. Also the reddish coloring runs through the whole body of the fish.

**spaceboy** · 25th Jan 2012, 07:05

Here's another pic with better coloring surrounded by Hyphessobrycon sweglesi.

You can clearly see, it not a Hyphessobrycon sweglesi or a female Megalamphodus megalopterus.

**stormhawk** · 25th Jan 2012, 10:22

I found a link and it's called Hyphessobrycon (Megalamphodus) sp. "Pantanal" or just Fire Phantom as a common name:

http://www.rva.jp/zukan/characin/megalamphodus_sp.htm

It might be an undescribed species or a just a color form of H. megalopterus.

http://www.rva.jp/zukan/characin/megalamphodus_sp_a.htm

In this page it shows the fish changing color in the tanks, though this is from another batch I think.

Somehow, I feel they might be hybrids of H. megalopterus with another one from the "rosy tetra group".

**Johora** · 25th Jan 2012, 11:25

Apologies for the mistake.

**spaceboy** · 25th Jan 2012, 20:27

@stormhawk Good find mate! Unfortunately there's still not much info on them as yet.... Pity... Whether they are a underscribed species or hybrids, they're still beauties. I really like them! The man in the store told me that they only get them Wild and in small quantities. He also told me that depending on the batch not many survive long due to poor health and disease. He told that the batch of 5 he had were healthy and I the bought the lot! Lucky, I guess. That pictures on the second link might just be a bad batch. Anyway, thanks!

@Johora No worries mate! I made the same mistake similar mistake at the shop but I thought they were Hyphessobrycon megalopterus.

**spaceboy** · 25th Jan 2012, 20:58

Here's a quick video of them. Hopefully you can see the difference a bit better... You can also see them shoaling with my other Hyphessobrycon sp! Enjoy.

If any new info comes up, please share. Thanks y'all!