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Pygmy carplet

Paedocypris progenetica

Also known as Miniature carp, Ruby rasbora

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH
4.5–6.5
Adult size
0.5 in (1.2 cm)
Minimum tank
5 gal (20 L)
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Origin
Peat swamps of Sumatra and Bintan, Indonesia
Family
Cyprinidae

Overview

A specialist's fish: keep a school alone or with equally microscopic company, feed infusoria-grade and micro foods, and guard the acid blackwater chemistry. Sponge-shielded filtration only; it can be pulled into ordinary intakes.

In the wild

The pygmy carplet lives in blackwater peat swamps of Sumatra, water stained dark and nearly as acidic as vinegar. It needs a mature nano blackwater tank, 24 to 28 degrees Celsius, pH 4.5 to 6.5, and absolute gentleness.

Good to know

Paedocypris progenetica is among the smallest fish and smallest vertebrates known: females mature under 8 millimeters, and a giant is 12. The skeleton stays partly cartilage its whole life, a fish that never finishes becoming one.

Did you know

When described in 2006 it took the crown of world's smallest fish; a dozen of them weigh less than a paperclip, and the whole school could ship in a shot glass.

Tank mates

Pygmy carplet is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Pygmy carplet need?

A Pygmy carplet needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH do Pygmy carplet need?

Pygmy carplet are comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.5.

How big do Pygmy carplet get?

An adult Pygmy carplet reaches about 0.5 in (1.2 cm).

Do Pygmy carplet need a group?

Yes. Pygmy carplet are a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Where to buy

Some links may not be the exact species or variety.

…or ask your local fish store.

Appears in

Freshwater fish · Barbs, danios & rasboras · Advanced fish · Nano fish · Schooling fish · Community fish

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