Nambiquara royal tetra

Inpaichthys nambiquara

Also known as Hasemania nambiquara, Nambiquara tetra

FreshwaterFish

Nambiquara royal tetra (Inpaichthys nambiquara) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH: 5.5–7.0
Adult size: 1.3 in (3.4 cm)
Minimum tank: 14 gal (54 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Upper Juruena basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Family: Characidae

Overview

The Nambiquara royal tetra is a small, peaceful schooling fish that is kept much like its close relative the royal tetra, in a group of at least eight to ten. It swims in the middle of the water and shows its violet-blue sheen best in soft water over a dark substrate with dim light. Pair it with other small, calm community fish such as pencilfish, small rasboras, dwarf cichlids, and corydoras. Feed small foods: micro pellets, crushed flake, and regular frozen or live daphnia, cyclops, and baby brine shrimp. A group is comfortable in around 54 liters or more with planting and open swimming room.

In the wild

Inpaichthys nambiquara comes from small, clear forest creeks in the upper Rio Juruena system of the Rio Tapajos basin in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Keep it soft and warm, from 23 to 27 degrees Celsius, at pH 5.5 to 7.0 with low hardness. A dark substrate, driftwood, leaf litter, and dim light from floating plants deepen its color and keep the group confident, while gentle flow and clean, stable water keep it healthy.

Good to know

First described as Hasemania nambiquara, this species was moved in 2024 into Inpaichthys, the small genus of the royal tetra, family Characidae, after a broad study of the characins. It stays around 3.4 centimeters and honors the Nambiquara people of its home region in Mato Grosso. It is an egg-scattering spawner, and while its royal-tetra relatives breed readily, records for this species itself are limited.

Did you know

A 2024 study moved it out of the silvertip genus and into Inpaichthys, the royal tetra's own small genus, effectively promoting this modest little fish into aquarium royalty.

Tank mates

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