Spotted splash tetra
Copella nattereri
Also known as Natterer's copella, Beautiful-scaled characin, Spotted copella
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 5.0–6.5
- Adult size
- 2 in
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 16 gal
- 60 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Top
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Lebiasinidae
- Origin
- Native to the Rio Negro and central Amazon drainages of Brazil.
Overview
The spotted splash tetra is a peaceful surface fish for a planted blackwater tank. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
The spotted splash tetra is a close relative of the famous splash tetras, a group known for laying eggs on leaves above the waterline. They splash the eggs to keep them wet.
Caring for the spotted splash tetra
Keep spotted splash tetras in a well-planted tank of at least 16 gal (60 L), with floating plants and gentle filtration. They spend their time near the surface and can jump, so give the tank a tight lid.
Give them warm, soft and acidic water, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 6.5. Stain the water with tannins if you can.
Keep a group, though a spotted splash tetra is also fine on its own. It is peaceful and mixes well with other small, calm blackwater fish. Breeding it is moderately difficult.
Good to know
Copella nattereri is a slender, surface-oriented characin in the family Lebiasinidae, the same group as the pencilfishes. Its body is scattered with small dark and reddish spots. Some populations show a soft blue and red sheen.
In the wild
The spotted splash tetra comes from the Rio Negro and central Amazon drainages of Brazil. It lives in soft, acidic blackwater streams and flooded forest, near the surface among floating plants, roots and overhanging cover. The water there is warm, very soft and dark with tannins.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The spotted splash tetra is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the top. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Honey gourami
Trichogaster chuna
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Cherry barb
Rohanella titteya
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Oil catfish
Duringlanis perugiae
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Threadfin rainbowfish
Iriatherina werneri
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 13 gal (50 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
Gold-spotted halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon chrysopunctatus
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a spotted splash tetra need?
A spotted splash tetra needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the top.
What temperature and pH does a spotted splash tetra need?
A spotted splash tetra is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.0–6.5.
How big does a spotted splash tetra get?
An adult spotted splash tetra reaches about 2 in (5 cm).
Related species
2.2 in (5.5 cm)18 gal (70 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)Splash tetra
Copella arnoldi
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 18 gal (70 L)
2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Fanning characin
Pyrrhulina rachoviana
2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2 in (5 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Marilyn's pencilfish
Nannostomus marilynae
2 in (5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Harrison's pencilfish
Nannostomus harrisoni
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Spotted pyrrhulina
Pyrrhulina spilota
2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)18 gal (70 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)Golden pencilfish
Nannostomus beckfordi
2.4 in (6 cm) · 18 gal (70 L)