Rosy tetra

The rosy tetra is a delicate South American characid from Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil, where it inhabits sluggish, forested tributaries and blackwater environments stained dark by tannins. Males are the more colourful sex, developing a warm rosy-pink flush across the body and sporting elegantly extended dorsal and anal fins as they mature. They reach a modest 4 cm in standard length, making them suitable for smaller community aquaria. Most fish sold today are commercially bred on farms rather than wild-caught.

In the aquarium, rosy tetras look best in a dimly lit blackwater-style setup with a sandy substrate, driftwood branches, and dried leaf litter that releases tannins into the water. The lighting should be subdued, as bright conditions cause them to become shy and washed out in colour. They also adapt well to well-planted aquaria. A tank of at least 60 cm x 37.5 cm x 30 cm (70 litres) is adequate for a small shoal. Soft, acidic water with a temperature of 24–28 °C best replicates their natural habitat.

Rosy tetras are exceptionally peaceful and should not be kept with boisterous or much larger tankmates. They thrive alongside other small South American species such as other Hyphessobrycon and Hemigrammus tetras, pencil fish, Apistogramma dwarf cichlids, and Corydoras. They are shoaling by nature and should always be maintained in groups of at least six, ideally ten or more. Their diet in nature consists of small invertebrates, but in the aquarium they accept quality dried flakes and granules alongside regular servings of live and frozen foods for optimum health and colour.