The Rosy Tetra, Hyphessobrycon rosaceus,
is one of the most beautiful of all the many beautiful tetras. It
comes from South America, from Guyana and Brazil. The Rosy Tetra is
sometimes spelt Rosey Tetra. It reaches a length of about four cm (one
and a half inches).
Water Conditions
The Rosy Tetra is a tropical fish, and a
temperature of between 24 and 28 degrees C (75 and 82 degrees F) is
suitable. In the wild they have soft moderately acidic water, but will
adjust to neutral or even slightly alkaline conditions with a moderate
level of hardness as adults. These are conditions that suit a large
number of other community fish.
A school of Rosy Tetras is quite suitable
for a community tank of small fish at 24 degrees C (75 degrees F), with
moderate hardness and a pH near neutral (7).
If not stressed the Rosy Barb has brilliant colours. There should be some plants as well as room for swimming.
Companions
The Rosy Tetra is a schooling fish and I suggest a
minimum of six be kept in an aquarium. In a school, the Rosy Tetra is
a peaceful fish and can be kept with other peaceful fish of a similar
size. These includeNeon Tetras and Cardinal Tetras. They would probably also be OK
with Siamese Fighting Fish, Guppies and Endlers Guppies.
Avoid large, aggressive or predatory fish. Even if
they do not eat the Rosy Barbs, bullying will adversely affect this
beautiful fish’s colour.
Sexing
The male Rosy Tetras have brighter colours and longer
fins than the female although both sexes have unusually long fins for a
wild type fish. They also both have bright colours. When ready to
breed the females are plumper than the males. Also, The black part of the females is more vivid than that of the male.
Breeding
Rosy barbs need to be well conditioned before
breeding with good rich foods like live mosquito larvae, Daphnia or
Frozen blood worms.
The breeding tank should have very soft, slightly
acidic water with a temperature about 28 degrees C (82 degrees F).
There needs to be some fine leaved plants. The fish should be
removed after spawning.
The babies will eat infusoria (protozoa) after they
are free swimming. This can be supplemented with fine fry foods. They
are fairly slow growing. As the get bigger, they will benefit from
suitable sized live foods.
Pest Fish
Do not release any fish into a place it is not native to.
Rosy Tetra Fact Sheet
