Scratched inpa tetra
Inpaichthys parauapiranga
Also known as Parauapiranga tetra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Adult size
- 1.2 in
- 3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 14 gal
- 54 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Rio Parauapiranga, Pará, Brazil
Overview
The scratched inpa tetra is a peaceful micro tetra for a soft-water planted tank. It is best kept by someone with some experience.
Did you know
The scratched inpa tetra's whole known range is one river. The aquarium strain may become the species' insurance policy.
Caring for the scratched inpa tetra
Keep twelve or more scratched inpa tetras in 14 gal (54 L) or larger. A larger group is what makes a fish this small visible. Give them planting, subdued light and gentle flow.
Keep the water soft, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Feed the finest foods available, such as crushed flake, micro granules, frozen cyclops and baby brine shrimp.
Scratched inpa tetras are peaceful and swim in the middle of the tank. Keep them away from any fish large enough to eat them.
Good to know
Inpaichthys parauapiranga, in the family Characidae, was described in 2024. Its genus is named for INPA, the Brazilian national institute for Amazon research. The genus also holds the royal tetra and a handful of recently described relatives. Captive observations are still thin, so keeper notes have real value and are worth recording properly.
In the wild
The scratched inpa tetra comes from the Rio Parauapiranga in Pará, Brazil, a small clearwater tributary.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The scratched inpa 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.
Dwarf white horseface loach
Kottelatlimia hipporhynchos
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Fire halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon kapuasensis
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Green lace shrimp
Atyoida pilipes
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Cherry barb
Rohanella titteya
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Ceará parotocinclus
Parotocinclus cearensis
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Red line halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon phaiosoma
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a scratched inpa tetra need?
A scratched inpa tetra needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a scratched inpa tetra need?
A scratched inpa tetra is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
What does a scratched inpa tetra eat?
A scratched inpa tetra needs the finest foods available, such as crushed flake, micro granules, frozen cyclops and baby brine shrimp.
How big does a scratched inpa tetra get?
An adult scratched inpa tetra reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).
Does a scratched inpa tetra need a group?
Yes. A scratched inpa tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
1.3 in (3.4 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Nambiquara royal tetra
Inpaichthys nambiquara
1.3 in (3.4 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Black arrow tetra
Inpaichthys luizae
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Royal tetra
Inpaichthys kerri
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.2 in (3 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Eilyos tetra
Hyphessobrycon eilyos
1.2 in (3 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)
1.2 in (3 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Weitzman's tetra
Hyphessobrycon weitzmanorum
1.2 in (3 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)
1.2 in (3.1 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Crystal tetra
Protocheirodon pi
1.2 in (3.1 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)