Vampire Tetra (Hydrolycus scomberoides)

Like something out a fishy nightmare the Vampire Tetra or Hydrolycus scomberoides has extra long sharp teeth that protrude out of its mouth like that of a vampire. They use the two largest fangs to impale their unsuspecting prey with amazing speed!  Also know as the Sabertooth Tetra or Payara, this freshwater fish can be kept in an aquarium and can grow to be VERY large. Under the right conditions, these fish can grow to several feet in length and weigh in at over 30lbs! They are not the easiest to care for and require lots of filtration and regular water changes, as well as lots of live foods. Vampire Tetra are of the tropical variety and require a temperature of 75 to 80 degrees in an aquarium of 100 gallons or more.   These fish originate from South America where they are caught in the waters of the amazon basin. 

Like the Piranha and Snakehead, one of the best parts of owning this type of aggressive carnivorous fish is feeding time!  Here is some footage of the Vampire Tetra being fed goldfish.


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