Rosy Tetra

The rosy tetra has an elegant look, with its semi-transparent salmon-pink body and reddish, white-tipped fins. There is a large black spot on the dorsal fin; in males this fin lengthens and curves like a sickle. Unlike its close relatives, the phantom tetras, it has no black spot on the shoulder.

In the trade it is sometimes sold mixed with similar species; when buying, looking at the fin shape and the absence of a shoulder spot helps tell them apart. It is a suitable species for calm, planted aquariums.

It lives in slow-flowing, planted shoreline waters and floodplain lakes of the lower Amazon basin in Brazil. The water is soft and acidic, with plenty of leaf litter on the bottom.

• Volume: at least 60 liters for a school of 8–12.
• Water: 24–27°C, pH 6–7, soft water. Farm-bred fish adapt to harder water to some extent, but the colors look better in soft water.
• Decor: dense plants, roots, floating plants and a dark substrate. Dim light brings out the pink tone.
• Maintenance: a 20–25% water change every week; gentle flow.

Omnivorous. Alongside small granules and flakes, give frozen brine shrimp, cyclops, daphnia and fine bloodworms. Live foods increase the males' display behavior.

A peaceful, calm species. Males display to each other by spreading their fins; this behavior does no harm. Because of its long dorsal fin, it should not be kept with fin-nipping species. It leaves adult shrimp alone.

Good companions: pencilfish, small and peaceful tetras, rasboras, corydoras, otocinclus, dwarf cichlids, shrimp.

Avoid: fin nippers such as serpae tetras and tiger barbs, large predatory fish, aggressive cichlids.

A group of at least 8, ideally 12 is recommended. The school swims in a loose formation; having several males brings out the displays. When kept in small numbers it becomes shy and loses its color. The sex ratio is not critical; a balanced group is enough.

It is an egg scatterer. Breeding requires a separate tank with very soft, acidic water, dim light and fine-leaved plants. Because the parents eat the eggs, they are removed after spawning. The fry are small and are fed infusoria in the first days.

• Fin damage: long-finned males get frayed fins with unsuitable tankmates; open wounds can lead to bacterial infection.
• White spot (ich): may appear after transport; quarantine is recommended.
• Water quality: it is sensitive to high nitrate; do regular water changes.

Males have a long, sickle-shaped dorsal fin, and their anal fins are wider as well. Females have short fins and plumper bodies.