Rosy Tetra

About

The ornate tetra (Hyphessobrycon bentosi) is a small, pink-bodied characin from the Amazon River basin, where it lives alongside a diverse cast of similarly peaceful species. In the aquarium it carries a warm rosy-to-reddish hue, and males develop noticeably extended dorsal and anal fins that they use to posture and display within the group. So the more individuals you keep, the more behavior you actually get to watch. A mixed-sex group of eight to ten is genuinely worth the effort: males establish loose dominance hierarchies and compete for female attention, which brings out both their best colors and their most animated interactions. This is a peaceful schooling fish that fits well into a community built around similarly sized characins, smaller catfishes, and non-aggressive cichlids. It does best with some cover and subdued lighting that complements its softwater origins, though it tolerates a fairly broad range of conditions. Breeding is achievable with a bit of setup. Adults scatter eggs freely and ignore them afterward, so some mesh or fine-leaved plants in a separate container will protect the spawn. One thing to be aware of: like several small characids, this species can develop a condition where body scales take on a metallic gold sheen. It looks unusual but does not appear to cause the fish any real harm.