Rosy Tetra care guide
Rosy Tetra (Hyphessobrycon rosaceus) — minimum tank 60 L, temperature 24-28 °C, pH 5.5-7.5.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Rosy Tetra (Hyphessobrycon rosaceus) is a small characid from coastal river basins of the Guianas and northern Brazil. Adult fish show a rosy-pink body and white-tipped dorsal, anal and pelvic fins.
Taxonomy
- Family: Characidae
- Genus: Hyphessobrycon
- Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon rosaceus
Habitat
Native to soft, slow-flowing tributaries of the coastal drainages of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and the lower Amazon, in shaded forest streams with leaf litter.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L (15.9 US gal)
- Adult size: 3-4 cm
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Water flow: low
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- School size: ≥6 individuals
Diet
An omnivore. Offer flakes, micro-pellets and small live or frozen foods (daphnia, brine shrimp, cyclops).
Compatibility
A peaceful shoaling species. Keep a group of at least six in a planted aquarium with subdued lighting. Suitable tankmates include other small characins, Corydoras and peaceful dwarf cichlids.
Breeding
An egg-scatterer. Soft, acidic water triggers spawning over fine-leaved plants; remove parents after spawning.
Rosy Tetra Breeding Guide
Overview
Hyphessobrycon rosaceus is an egg-scattering characin that breeds in soft, acidic, dimly lit water. It shows no parental care, so the spawning setup is designed to protect the eggs from the adults. It can be bred in pairs or in groups.
Sexing
Mature males have extended dorsal and anal fins and are larger, slimmer and a little more colourful than females. Conditioned females are rounder when full of eggs.
Conditioning
Condition the sexes separately in different tanks on plenty of small live foods before attempting to spawn them.
Breeding Setup
- Small spawning tank around 18 x 10 x 10 inches (45 x 25 x 25 cm)
- Very dim lighting
- Fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, or a mesh base that lets eggs fall through out of reach of the adults
- Temperature 80-84°F (27-29°C)
- pH 5.5-6.5, hardness 1-5 dGH; filtering through peat and using RO water is recommended
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
For pair spawning, transfer the fattest female and best-coloured male in the evening; they usually spawn the following morning. Alternatively, spawn a group of about half a dozen of each sex. Eggs are scattered and fall amongst the plants or through the mesh.
Egg & Fry Care
Remove the adults as soon as eggs are noticed, because they will eat them. The eggs and fry are light-sensitive in the early stages and should be kept in darkness if possible. Eggs hatch in 24-36 hours and the fry become free-swimming 3-4 days later. Start the fry on infusoria-type food, moving on to microworm or brine shrimp nauplii as they grow.
Common Challenges
The main challenges are achieving the soft, acidic water this species needs to fertilise eggs successfully, and shielding the light-sensitive eggs and fry from bright light during their first days.