Rosy tetra
Hyphessobrycon rosaceus
Also known as Megalamphodus rosaceus
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 1.6 in
- 4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 15 gal
- 55 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Egg scatterer · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Guyana, Suriname, Brazil
Overview
The rosy tetra is a peaceful characin for a heavily planted tank with dimmer light, and it is easy to keep.
Caring for the rosy tetra
Keep rosy tetras in a school of at least six, and more if you can, in 15 gal (55 L) or larger. Give them plenty of plants, some driftwood and dimmer lighting. A darker substrate helps them settle and show better color.
Give them soft, slightly acidic water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Feed a mix of quality flake and micro-pellets, with regular live or frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.
Rosy tetras swim mostly in the middle of the tank and stay peaceful with other small, calm species. Males carry deeper pink to red color and longer, sail-like dorsal fins, while females are paler and rounder. They are egg scatterers with no parental care, and the eggs hatch in roughly a day to a day and a half. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
Good to know
Hyphessobrycon rosaceus is a characin in the family Characidae. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.
In the wild
Rosy tetras come from the Guiana Shield in northern South America, across Guyana, Suriname and parts of Brazil. They live in slow, heavily planted blackwater streams shaded by trees, where tannins stain the water dark and soft.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The rosy 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)
New Guinea blue-eye
Pseudomugil novaeguineae
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Green lace shrimp
Atyoida pilipes
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Apiaka cory
Hoplisoma apiaka
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a rosy tetra need?
A rosy tetra needs at least 15 gal (55 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a rosy tetra need?
A rosy tetra is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.
What does a rosy tetra eat?
A rosy tetra eats a mix of quality flake and micro-pellets. Give it regular live or frozen foods as well, such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.
How big does a rosy tetra get?
An adult rosy tetra reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).
Does a rosy tetra need a group?
Yes. A rosy tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How can you tell a male rosy tetra from a female?
Males carry deeper pink to red color and longer, sail-like dorsal fins. Females are paler and rounder.
How does a rosy tetra breed?
Rosy tetras are egg scatterers and give no parental care. The eggs hatch in roughly a day to a day and a half, and breeding them is moderately difficult.
Related species
1.6 in (4 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Epicharis tetra
Hyphessobrycon epicharis
1.6 in (4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Madre de Dios tetra
Hyphessobrycon nigricinctus
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1.6 in (4 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Parrot tetra
Hyphessobrycon psittacus
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1.6 in (4 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Peruvian tetra
Hyphessobrycon peruvianus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Red phantom tetra
Hyphessobrycon sweglesi
1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Vinaceus tetra
Hyphessobrycon vinaceus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)