The Jellybean Tetra is a beautiful and peaceful freshwater fish that is perfect for beginners. They’re easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of water conditions.
Jellybean Tetras are also a great addition to any community tank. They’re social creatures that do best in groups of 6 or more.
In this guide, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about Jellybean Tetra care. You’ll learn about their diet, tank mates, lifespan, and more!
Table of contents
Species overview
The Jellybean Tetra (scientific name: Hemigrammus pulcher) is a freshwater fish that’s found in South America, specifically in the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela and Colombia.
They prefer slow-moving waters that are heavily vegetated. This provides them with plenty of places to hide and forage for food.
Jellybean Tetras are peaceful fish that do well in community tanks. They are compatible with a wide variety of other fish, as long as they are of similar size.
These fish get their name from their distinctive round shape and their bright coloration. They are a popular choice for freshwater aquariums because of their beauty and their peaceful nature.
Appearance
The Jellybean Tetra is a small freshwater fish that is easily recognizable due to its bright coloration. As the name implies, these fish are colored like jellybeans!
The base color of the Jellybean Tetra is usually a dark blue. However, there are also green, orange, and red varieties. The belly of the fish is usually a lighter color than the rest of the body.
The fins of the Jellybean Tetra are all translucent and relatively small. The dorsal fin is slightly taller than the anal fin and both of these fins are located about two-thirds of the way back on the body.
The caudal fin is forked and extends back almost to the end of the fish. The caudal peduncle is very thin.
Jellybean Tetras have small eyes that are almost hidden by their coloration. They have a small mouth that is slightly downturned.
Lifespan
2 – 3 years
The lifespan of a Jellybean tetra is relatively short when compared to other freshwater fish. This is due to a number of factors, including their small size and their high metabolism.
That being said, there are a number of things you can do to help your Jellybean tetra live a long and healthy life. Things like providing them with a nutritious diet and maintaining good water quality are key.
Size
The Jellybean Tetra typically only reaches about ½ an inch in size when fully grown.
Tank
Tank Size
The recommended tank size for Jellybean Tetras is at least 10 gallons. This is the minimum size we recommend for keeping a school of 5-6 fish.
As with most schooling fish, we recommend going up in tank size if you can. A 20 gallon tank would be ideal for a school of 10-12 fish.
Water Parameters
The jellybean tetra is a freshwater fish that is native to the Orinoco Basin in South America.
This fish is found in slow moving waters with a sandy bottom and plenty of aquatic vegetation.
The water parameters that are ideal for the jellybean tetra are as follows:
- Water temperature: 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
- pH levels: 6.0 to 7.8
- Water hardness: 2 to 12 dGH
- Alkalinity Levels: 4-8 dKH
What To Put In Their Tank
Jellybean tetras are a great addition to any freshwater aquarium. They’re relatively small (only reaching about 1.5 inches in length) and have a very peaceful demeanor.
When it comes to setting up their tank, there are a few key things that you’ll want to keep in mind.
First and foremost, these fish need to feel secure. They’re not known to be overly shy, but they will do best in an aquarium that provides plenty of hiding spots.
This can be achieved in a number of ways. Driftwood, rocks, and caves are all great options. You can even use live plants if you want (just make sure they’re not too big or they might uproot them).
The second thing to keep in mind is that Jellybean tetras prefer soft water. This isn’t a mandatory requirement, but it will make them much happier if you can provide it.
The easiest way to achieve this is to use a water conditioner that’s designed for softening water. You can also use reverse osmosis if you’re really serious about it.
Other than that, these fish are pretty easy to please. They’re not too picky when it comes to the substrate or décor in their tank.
A classic gravel substrate will work just fine, but you can use something softer if you want. As for plants, any type of live plant will do. Just make sure they’re not too big or they might uproot them.
Common Diseases
The jellybean tetra is a hardy little fish that doesn’t often fall ill. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re completely immune to disease.
There are a few things that you need to look out for when keeping these fish. The most common issue is white spot disease (ich).
This is a parasites that will attach itself to your fish and cause white spots to form on their body. It’s a common disease that can affect any freshwater fish, but it’s especially dangerous for small fish like the jellybean tetra.
The other thing you need to be on the lookout for is swim bladder disease. This is a condition that affects the swim bladder, which is a sac of air that helps fish to stay buoyant.
If this sac becomes damaged, it can cause the fish to float to the surface or sink to the bottom of the tank. This can obviously be very dangerous (or even fatal) for your fish.
The best way to prevent these diseases is to maintain a clean and healthy tank. That means regular water changes, filtering the water, and keeping an eye on the water quality.
You should also be careful about the food you feed your jellybean tetras. Overfeeding them (or feeding them the wrong foods) can cause swim bladder disease, so be sure to give them a high-quality diet that’s appropriate for their size.
Behavior & Temperament
The jellybean tetra is one of the most peaceful fish you can find. It’s a great choice for a community tank because it won’t bother other fish and can even tolerate fish that are a bit more nippy.
These fish are very active, but they’re not aggressive. In fact, they’re quite shy. They tend to school together in groups of six or more and will stick to the middle or upper area of the tank.
Jellybean tetras are known for their voracious appetites, so don’t be surprised if you see them eating constantly. They’ll nibble on just about anything, but they do prefer live food. If you can’t provide them with live food, frozen or freeze-dried food will suffice.
Tank Mates
The jellybean tetra is a peaceful and social fish that does best in a group. A school of 6-8 fish is ideal, but you can get by with as few as 4.
When it comes to choosing tank mates, the sky’s the limit. These fish are compatible with just about anything.
The only exception is fish that are too large to be considered food. Other than that, you can mix and match to your heart’s content.
Here are a few compatible species to get you started:
- Guppies
- Mollies
- Platies
- Swordtails
- Neon Tetras
- Rainbows
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows
- Danios
Breeding
The jellybean tetra is a beautiful little freshwater fish that is native to the rivers of Brazil. These fish are very peaceful, making them a great addition to any community aquarium. They are also very easy to care for, which is another plus.
Jellybean tetras are not picky eaters and will readily accept most aquarium foods. They are not known to be fin nippers, so they can be kept with other fish that have long fins.
Sexing jellybean tetras can be a bit tricky, as there are no obvious physical differences between males and females. The best way to tell them apart is by looking at their behavior. Males are usually more aggressive and territorial, while females are more shy and retiring.
To breed jellybean tetras, you will need to set up a separate breeding tank. The tank should be at least 10 gallons in size and should have a well-filtered and aerated water supply. The water should be soft and slightly acidic, with a temperature between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
The breeding tank should be decorated with plenty of plants, both live and artificial. The plants will provide places for the fry to hide and feel safe. You should also add a few pieces of driftwood or other smooth surfaces for the females to lay their eggs on.
When the tank is set up and the water is at the correct temperature, you can add a group of 6 to 8 jellybean tetras to the tank. It is best to add more females than males. The males will chase the females around and may nip at their fins, so it is important to have enough females to avoid stress.
Once the fish are in the tank, they should start to breed within a few weeks. The females will lay their eggs on the smooth surfaces in the tank. The males will then fertilize the eggs.
After the eggs have been fertilized, the parents should be removed from the tank to avoid them eating the eggs or fry. The eggs will hatch in 24 to 48 hours, and the fry will be free-swimming a few days later.
The fry can be fed on live or frozen foods, such as brine shrimp or bloodworms. They should be fed several times a day, in small amounts. As they grow, you can start to feed them larger foods, such as flakes or pellets.
Conclusion
The Jellybean Tetra is a beautiful, peaceful freshwater fish that is perfect for the beginner aquarist. They are easy to care for and can live in a variety of different tank setups.
If you’re looking for a fish that is low-maintenance and will add some color to your tank, the Jellybean Tetra is a great option!
