Product Details

Rosy Tetra – Megalamphodus rosaceus

The Rosy Tetra is a peaceful, elegant South American tetra with soft pink body colour, red fin highlights and a graceful deep-bodied shape. Long sold as Hyphessobrycon rosaceus, this species is now placed in Megalamphodus and remains a reliable choice for mature planted community aquariums. Kept in a proper group with calm tank mates and stable water, Rosy Tetras make a colourful but gentle addition to a peaceful display.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Rosy Tetra
Other Names: Rosy Fin Tetra, Rose Tetra, White-fin Rosy Tetra, Hyphessobrycon rosaceus
Scientific Name: Megalamphodus rosaceus
Older / Trade Name: Hyphessobrycon rosaceus
Fish Type: Tetra / Characin
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Megalamphodus rosaceus is native to northern South America, where it is recorded from the Essequibo, Corantijn and Suriname River basins. These habitats are typically warm, soft, acidic to neutral freshwater environments with plant cover, submerged roots, woody debris and shaded areas.

In the aquarium, Rosy Tetras do best in mature planted setups with clean water, gentle to moderate flow, shaded areas and open swimming room. Darker décor, floating plants, wood and leaf litter can help create a more natural setting and bring out their softer pink and red tones.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Rosy Tetras have a deep, laterally compressed body with a soft pink, peach or rose-silver base colour. The fins often show red, pink, white or black accents, with mature males usually developing stronger colour and more extended dorsal and anal fins. Females are generally fuller-bodied and slightly less intense in colour.

Adults usually reach around 4–5 cm, making them small enough for planted community aquariums but large enough to stand out well in a mixed tetra display.

Aquarium Suitability:

This is a good choice for peaceful community aquariums, planted South American-style tanks and mixed tetra displays. Rosy Tetras are calmer than many boisterous tetras and suit aquariums with gentle tank mates, plant cover and stable water quality.

They are not suitable for aggressive cichlid tanks, predator communities, very hard-water livebearer setups, tiny unfiltered aquariums or tanks with large fish that may eat them.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 75 litres for a group, with a tank length of at least 60 cm recommended. Larger aquariums of 90–120 litres or more are better for bigger groups and mixed communities.

Keep in a group of at least 6, with 8–10 or more preferred. A larger group improves confidence, reduces stress and encourages more natural display behaviour between males.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 23–28°C
pH: 5.8–7.5
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Rosy Tetras show best colour in clean, stable water with subdued lighting and plant cover. They are adaptable once settled, but sudden changes in temperature, pH or hardness should be avoided. Soft, slightly acidic water is preferred, especially for breeding condition and richer colour.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Rosy Tetras are peaceful community fish. Suitable tank mates include other peaceful tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, Cory-type catfish, Otocinclus, small peaceful plecs, dwarf cichlids with care, honey gouramis and other calm community species that enjoy similar conditions.

Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, severe fin-nippers and very boisterous fish that may intimidate them. They should not be kept singly or in pairs, as group life is important for confidence, colour and natural behaviour.

Feeding:

Rosy Tetras are easy-feeding omnivores. Offer quality flakes, small granules or micro pellets as the staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp, mosquito larvae and small bloodworm.

A varied diet helps maintain body colour, fin condition and breeding readiness. Feed small portions that are eaten quickly, as they are active midwater feeders.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This species usually swims through the middle levels of the aquarium, moving in a loose shoal rather than a tight school. Males may display to one another with flared fins and stronger colour, especially in mature groups. This behaviour is usually peaceful and adds interest to a planted community setup.

Rosy Tetras are egg scatterers and do not provide parental care. If spawning occurs in a community aquarium, eggs and fry are usually eaten unless a separate breeding setup is used.

Care Notes:

Add Rosy Tetras only to a mature, fully cycled aquarium. Provide plants, shaded cover and open swimming space. Maintain regular water changes and stable water conditions, and avoid rough or aggressive tank mates.

This species can look pale after transport or in bright bare shop tanks, but settled fish usually show stronger pink colour and fin markings once they are in a calm planted aquarium with a good-sized group.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Common to occasional / Usually captive-bred or farmed, with imports also seen

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, pink colour, red fin tone, dorsal markings, body depth and markings can occur between individual fish.