Splash tetra

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep splash tetras in a group of six or more in a tank of around 70 liters, with the water level a bit lower so there is air space above. They hang near the surface and are mostly peaceful. In the wild they eat insects and larvae, so feed floating flakes, small pellets, and surface foods like daphnia and mosquito larvae. Soft, acidic, warm water suits them best.

In the wild

Splash tetras live in shallow, slow water in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, including small streams and flooded forest with leaf litter and surface plants. The water is clear, soft, and slightly acidic. Give them a calm, well-planted tank with floating cover, soft acidic water, and a temperature anywhere from the low 20s to high 20s C. A tight lid matters because they spend time right at the surface and will jump.

Good to know

Copella arnoldi sits in the family Lebiasinidae, the pencilfish family, and reaches about 5.5 cm. It is best known for spawning out of the water, which is rare among fish. The eggs are laid on a leaf or surface above the waterline. It is a widely available species with stable wild populations.

Did you know

A spawning pair leaps out of the water together and presses against an overhanging leaf, where the female lays eggs above the waterline. The male then stays below and flicks water up with his tail to keep the eggs wet until they hatch, which keeps them safe from underwater predators.

Related species

• Spotted splash tetra

  Copella nattereri

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Harrison's pencilfish

  Nannostomus harrisoni

  2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Golden pencilfish

  Nannostomus beckfordi

  2.4 in (6 cm)18 gal (70 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)
• Red-spotted tetra

  Copeina guttata

  3.9 in (10 cm)32 gal (120 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Purple pencilfish

  Nannostomus rubrocaudatus

  1.2 in (3 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• One-lined Pencilfish

  Nannostomus unifasciatus

  1.6 in (4 cm)17 gal (65 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)