So-called gold tetras are found in many species of characins in South America. Usually, only a few fish in a school are affected by the phenomenon in which guanine, the substance responsible for the shiny silver or gold glitter effect of the fish scales, is secreted at a much higher rate than usual. We explain this in detail here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/hyphessobrycon-saizi-hyphessobrycon-eos-colombian-gold-tetra/) For the reasons described, the golden sheen cannot be fixed in breeding strains. The offspring of all gold tetras look like the regular form.
However, it is precisely in a tetra, in which wild-caught gold tetras are almost never found, that the genetic fixation of the golden sheen has been achieved. Breeders call this attractive silver-shining fish “diamond,” but it is usually referred to as “platinum” in the trade. The precious metal sheen of this rummynose tetra – technically speaking, Petitella bleheri – is due to a random genetic mutation, not parasite infestation. For information on distinguishing between the three rummynose tetras and general care instructions, see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/petitella-rummynose-tetras/
For our customers: you can find the animals on our stock list as “Hemigrammus rhodostomus Platinum” with the code numbers 257362 (md) and 257363 (md-lg). Please note that we only supply wholesale customers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
