Jellybean tetra
Ladigesia roloffi
Also known as Jelly bean tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 1.2 in
- 3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 10 gal
- 37 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Alestidae
- Origin
- Sierra Leone
Overview
The jellybean tetra is a small, peaceful schooling fish for a planted nano tank. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
The jellybean tetra's near-see-through body picks up the light around it. As it moves through different parts of a planted tank, it seems to shift shade.
Caring for the jellybean tetra
Keep jellybean tetras in a school of six or more. A tank as small as 10 gal (37 L) works, and their small size makes them good nano fish. A planted tank with soft lighting, some botanicals and gentle flow brings out their best shimmer.
Keep the water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed small foods such as fine flake and micro-pellets, with the occasional frozen daphnia or baby brine shrimp.
Jellybean tetras are peaceful and swim in the middle of the tank. Keep their tank mates equally small and calm. Breeding them at home is not well documented.
Good to know
Ladigesia roloffi is a small African tetra in the family Alestidae. It has a translucent body with a pearly shine and a dark spot near the base of the tail. Wild populations face habitat loss, but the species is not formally listed as endangered.
In the wild
The jellybean tetra comes from clear, slow forest streams and small rivers in Sierra Leone. These streams are shaded by trees and full of leaf litter, and the water is soft and slightly acidic with a calm, dim feel.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The jellybean tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Sicklefin livebearer
Girardinus falcatus
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Green babaulti shrimp
Caridina babaulti
Freshwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Wandering snail
Ampullaceana balthica
Freshwater0.8 in (2 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)50–84°F (10–29°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a jellybean tetra need?
A jellybean tetra needs at least 10 gal (37 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a jellybean tetra need?
A jellybean tetra is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a jellybean tetra eat?
A jellybean tetra eats small foods such as fine flake and micro-pellets. Give it the occasional frozen daphnia or baby brine shrimp as well.
How big does a jellybean tetra get?
An adult jellybean tetra reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).
Does a jellybean tetra need a group?
Yes. A jellybean tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
1 in (2.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Adonis tetra
Lepidarchus adonis
1 in (2.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
- 2 in (5 cm)24 gal (90 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Red-back moon tetra
Bathyaethiops flammeus
2 in (5 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)24 gal (90 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Copper Congo tetra
Hemigrammopetersius pulcher
2.4 in (6 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)30 gal (112 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Altus tetra
Brachypetersius altus
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 30 gal (112 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Breuseghem's moon tetra
Bathyaethiops breuseghemi
2.8 in (7 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Niger yellow Congo tetra
Alestopetersius smykalai
2.8 in (7 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)