Description
Ornate White Tiped Rosy Tetra (Hyphessobrycon rosaceus)
Overview
The Ornate Rosy Tetra (Hyphessobrycon rosaceus), often distinguished by its prominent white tips on the dorsal and anal fins, is a peaceful, elegant freshwater schooling fish native to the Amazon River basin, Guyana, and parts of Suriname in South America.
- Appearance: Features a deep, compressed, ruby-pink to rosy-red translucent body accented by dark humeral spots. Its most striking characteristic is the stark, brilliant milk-white tips at the ends of its elongated dorsal and anal fins, which are further contrasted by deep black markings. Males tend to develop a significantly higher, more dramatic sickle-shaped dorsal fin than females.
- Size: Grows to approximately 3.5 to 4.5 cm (1.5 to 1.8 inches) in length.
- Lifespan: Typically 3 to 5 years when provided with optimal water quality and care.
Care Requirements
- Aquarium Size: Because they are active, mid-water schooling swimmers, a minimum aquarium size of 70 to 90 liters (approx. 60 to 75 cm or 2 feet in length) is recommended to accommodate a proper school.
- Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 23°C to 28°C (73°F to 82°F)
- pH: 6.0 to 7.0 (they thrive best in slightly acidic, soft water)
- General Hardness (GH): 2 to 12°H (soft to moderately hard water)
- Filtration & Flow: Gentle to moderate filtration with mild water movement. They appreciate clean, well-oxygenated water but dislike powerful, turbulent currents.
Maintenance
- Aquascaping: Replicate a natural South American blackwater or shaded stream habitat by using a dark substrate (such as dark sand or fine gravel) to highlight their vibrant rosy coloration. Incorporate dense peripheral and background plantings (Cryptocorynes, sword plants, or floating plants to diffuse overhead light), alongside driftwood branches and dried Indian almond leaves or botanicals to leach beneficial tannins.
- Water Quality & Changes: Perform routine partial water changes (20% weekly) to maintain pristine conditions, as they can be sensitive to accumulating nitrates and sudden chemical shifts.
Diet
- Nature: Omnivorous micro-feeders that accept most standard aquarium foods readily.
- Staple Diet: High-quality micro-pellets, crushed flake foods, or fine granules.
- Enhancing Color & Health: Supplement their diet regularly with live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, cyclops, daphnia, and finely chopped bloodworms.
Behaviour and Compatibility
- Temperament: Peaceful, active, and occasionally spirited during minor intra-species sparring (where males flare their fins at one another), but entirely harmless to other species. They occupy the middle levels of the water column.
- Shoaling Needs: This is a strict schooling species that must be kept in a group of at least 6 to 8 individuals (ideally 10 or more). Keeping them in isolation or pairs leads to chronic stress, faded colors, and constant hiding.
- Tank Mates: Excellent for peaceful community setups. Good companions include small rasboras, other peaceful tetras, dwarf cichlids, livebearers, and bottom-dwellers like Corydoras catfish or small loaches. Avoid housing them with large, aggressive predators or boisterous fish that will intimidate them.
Breeding Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful, active, and occasionally spirited during minor intra-species sparring (where males flare their fins at one another), but entirely harmless to other species. They occupy the middle levels of the water column.
- Shoaling Needs: This is a strict schooling species that must be kept in a group of at least 6 to 8 individuals (ideally 10 or more). Keeping them in isolation or pairs leads to chronic stress, faded colors, and constant hiding.
- Tank Mates: Excellent for peaceful community setups. Good companions include small rasboras, other peaceful tetras, dwarf cichlids, livebearers, and bottom-dwellers like Corydoras catfish or small loaches. Avoid housing them with large, aggressive predators or boisterous fish that will intimidate them.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Either come in store to view available stock or request pictures to be sent to you.
Please Note: Due to variations within species resulting from age, region, sex, etc., the actual livestock may not look identical to the image. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimens.
