Rosy tetra

Hyphessobrycon 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: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Guyana, Suriname, Brazil
Family: Characidae

Overview

Keep them in a school of at least six, ideally more, in a tank around 55 liters or larger. They spend most of their time in the middle of the water column and stay peaceful with other small, calm species. Feed a mix of quality flake, micro-pellets, and regular live or frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp. Aim for temperatures from the mid to high 20s C and pH from about 5.5 to 7.5.

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. To match that, give them a tank with plenty of plants, some driftwood, and dimmer lighting. Soft, slightly acidic water and a darker substrate help them settle and show better color.

Good to know

This is a characin in the family Characidae, reaching about 4 cm as an adult. Males carry deeper pink to red color and longer, sail-like dorsal fins, while females are paler and rounder. They are egg scatterers that give no parental care, with eggs hatching in roughly a day to a day and a half. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.

Did you know

Males spar without ever making contact. Two will face off and flare their extended dorsal and anal fins at each other to settle who ranks higher, and a bigger group keeps these displays frequent without anyone getting hurt.