The splash tetra (Hyphessobrycon rosaceus) is a beautiful freshwater fish that is perfect for beginner aquarists.
This species is very easy to care for, and can even tolerate a wide range of water conditions.
The splash tetra is a peaceful fish that is perfect for community tanks. They are also very active, and will often be seen swimming near the surface of the water.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about splash tetra care. You’ll learn about their diet, size, lifespan, and more!
Table of contents
Species overview
Splash tetras (scientific name: Aphyocharax paraguayensis) are found in various rivers and streams throughout Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay.
They prefer slow-moving water with dense vegetation and plenty of hiding spots. This is something to keep in mind if you want to recreate their natural habitat in an aquarium.
The diet of splash tetras in the wild consists mostly of small insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. However, they are not opposed to eating the occasional plant matter.
In the aquarium trade, splash tetras are known for being very peaceful fish. They do well in community tanks and can be kept with a wide variety of different fish species.
Appearance
The first thing you’ll notice about this freshwater fish is their coloration. The base color of their body is a beautiful blue. This is overlaid with a scattering of orange and yellow spots.
The fins on this fish are all clear and very thin. The dorsal fin is taller than their anal fin and both of these fins start about two-thirds of the way back on their body.
Their caudal fin is forked and relatively tall. The peduncle is also colored with the same blue hue as their body.
One of the most interesting things about Splash tetras is their eyes. They have two large black spots on their body (one on each side) that almost look like eyes.
These spots are actually their eyes. The real eyes are actually fairly small and located just behind these spots.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of a splash tetra is 2 to 3 years.
This is a relatively short lifespan when compared to other fish. There are a number of factors that contribute to this.
For one, these fish are very small and therefore have a relatively small amount of body mass. This means they don’t have a lot of “reserves” to fall back on when things aren’t going well.
They’re also very sensitive to changes in their environment. Even small changes can cause stress which can lead to illness and an early death.
Size
Splash tetras are one of the smaller species of fish, only growing to be about 1.5 inches in length when fully mature.
Tank
Tank Size
The minimum tank size for a splash tetra is 10 gallons. This is assuming you’re keeping them in a school of at least 5 or 6 fish (which you should).
We personally recommend a slightly larger tank if you can accommodate it. Every extra space will make a big difference and allow you to keep a larger school or more tank mates if you’re interested in a community tank.
Water Parameters
Splash tetras are very adaptable fish that can live in a wide variety of water conditions. This makes them a good choice for beginners or those who don’t want to spend a lot of time monitoring water parameters.
While they can live in most water conditions, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure they thrive.
First, splash tetras prefer slightly acidic to neutral water. This means a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
They also prefer soft water. A hardness between 2 and 8 dGH is ideal.
As for temperature, splash tetras like it on the cool side. A range between 68 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal.
- Water Temperature: 68-74 degrees Fahrenheit
- pH Levels: 6.0-7.0
- Water Hardness: 2-8 dGH
- Alkalinity Levels: Not Critical
What To Put In Their Tank
Splash tetras are a freshwater species that is native to the Amazon basin. In the wild, they can be found in slow-moving rivers and streams.
When it comes to setting up their tank, you’ll want to replicate their natural habitat as much as possible. This means using a dark substrate and plenty of plants.
The plants will help to provide some cover for the fish and make them feel more comfortable. We recommend using species like Java Fern or Amazon sword plants.
As for the substrate, you can use either gravel or sand. These fish don’t have a preference, but sand is usually a bit easier to clean.
You should also include some driftwood or rocks in their tank. These can help to create some hiding spots for the fish and make the aquarium look more natural.
When it comes to decorations, less is more with this species. They don’t need a lot of flashy stuff in their tank and too much can actually stress them out.
Common Diseases
Splash tetras are a really beautiful freshwater fish. They’re a great addition to any community tank and they’re relatively easy to care for.
However, like all fish, they can still fall ill from time to time. The most common disease that affects splash tetras is ich.
Ich is a really common freshwater fish disease that’s caused by a parasite. It’s not usually fatal, but it can be if it’s left untreated. The most obvious symptom of ich is the presence of white spots on the body of your fish.
If you notice this, it’s important to act fast. There are plenty of ich treatments available, but the sooner you start the treatment the better.
Another disease to look out for is hole-in-the-head disease. This is a rather gruesome looking illness that stems from poor water quality and the presence of activated carbon in your tank.
This will present itself as one or two pits/holes in the skin of your fish’s head. While it’s almost always curable (fixing your water quality and removing activated carbon is usually all you need to do), it will usually leave some scarring on your poor fish!
Behavior & Temperament
The Splash Tetra is one of the liveliest fish in the aquarium world. They’re constantly on the move and love to explore their environment. It’s not uncommon to see these fish swimming up and down in the water column or chasing each other around.
In terms of temperament, Splash Tetras are relatively peaceful. They can get along with other fish as long as they’re not too small. If you put them in a tank with fish that are too small, the Splash Tetras might see them as food.
Other than that, these fish are pretty easy-going. They’re not known to be aggressive or territorial.
Tank Mates
Splash tetras are a schooling species, which means they do best when kept in groups of 6 or more. This is important to remember when choosing tank mates.
The first rule of thumb is to avoid any fish that might see them as food. This includes larger fish and aggressive fish.
The second rule is to look for fish that occupy different parts of the water column. Splash tetras prefer the upper levels, so look for fish that stay near the bottom.
This will give everyone their own space and minimize the risk of aggression.
Some good splash tetra tank mates include:
- Black Neon Tetra
- Cardinal Tetra
- Glowlight Tetra
- Ember Tetra
- Rummy Nose Tetra
- Corydoras Catfish
- Otocinclus Catfish
- Ghost Shrimp
Breeding
The splash tetra is a very easy fish to breed in captivity. They don’t have any special requirements and will readily spawn in a community tank.
To increase the chances of breeding, you can set up a special breeding tank. It should hold at least 10 gallons of water. Then, add plenty of plants. The more plants, the better. You can also use a spawning mop or piece of cloth.
Splash tetras are egg-scatterers. The female will release her eggs and the male will fertilize them. Then, the eggs will float to the surface and get stuck in the plants.
That’s why it’s important to have plenty of vegetation. It gives the eggs a better chance of survival.
You don’t need to do anything special to trigger spawning. Just make sure the fish are well-fed and the water quality is good.
Once the eggs are laid, remove the adults. The eggs will hatch in 24 to 36 hours.
Feed the fry live food at first. Then, you can start to introduce flakes and other prepared foods.
Conclusion
The Splash Tetra is a beautiful and peaceful fish that is perfect for beginner aquarists. They are easy to care for and will add some much-needed color to your tank.
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance fish that is still fun to watch, the Splash Tetra is a great choice.
