Rosy Tetra

Looks how to spot one

Small, deep-bodied scaled characin

A deep-bodied little tetra with a pinkish blush on the lower flanks and fins. Mature males are larger, slimmer and more colourful, with long, flowing dorsal and anal fins. It looks much like the closely related bentosi tetra but has no dark spot behind the gill cover.13

Personality what they are like

Calm and friendly toward other fish. A group settles into a relaxed shoal, with males flaring their fins at each other in harmless displays.1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Swims steadily in mid-water; enjoys open space next to dense planting.13

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Straightforward care: stable soft to medium water, regular partial water changes and a varied diet. Colours look richest in slightly acidic water.1

Home where they are happiest

Tank of at least about 60 x 38 x 30 cm (around 68 litres) for a small group. Temperature 24 to 28 °C, pH about 5.5 to 7.5, hardness up to about 12 to 20 dGH. In nature it prefers clear, slow streams with lots of aquatic plants.123

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Eats small invertebrates in the wild. In the aquarium offer good flakes or granules plus small live and frozen foods.1

Company who they like around

Shoaling fish: at least 6, ideally 10 or more, kept with other peaceful tetras, rasboras, barbs or dwarf cichlids.1

The story where it all began

Marion Durbin Ellis described the rosy tetra in 1909 from fish collected at Gluck Island in the Essequibo River, Guyana. It became a popular aquarium fish and was moved to the genus Megalamphodus in 2024.312

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Least Concern (assessed 4 March 2021)2

FishBase

Listed as a commercial aquarium species2