Raccoon tetra

Hyphessobrycon procyon

Two shoulder marks, a tail spot and an elongated male dorsal fin

Unequal shoulder marks and a dark caudal spot contrast with a silver-yellow body. Male pelvic fins are extended but not threadlike.

Adult length: Up to 3.2 cm (standard length, without the tail fin)
Water temperature: 23–27 °C
pH: 5.5–7.5

Natural habitat: The type locality is a clear, fast-flowing river with a rocky bed.

Sale size does not justify a tiny aquarium.

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Appearance and identification

Compare its two shoulder blotches with the single blotch of H. notidanos and the Kitty tetra, H. heliacus. In mature male procyon the pelvic fins are extended but not threadlike; male Kitty tetras have filamentous pelvic fins. Procyon also lacks conspicuous chevron-shaped side markings, or shows them only faintly. Long dorsal fins or yellow coloration alone are not enough for identification.