Care
The Rosy Tetra is known from the Corantijn, Essequibo, and Suriname River basins. These shoaling fish tend to inhabit heavily vegetated areas of sluggish tributaries, where they stay close to the safety of plant cover and submerged roots. The water is soft and acidic, and is often stained a tea-colour due to tannins released from submerged wood and decaying leaves.
Ideally, the aquarium should be darkly furnished, with plenty of bogwood and areas of dense planting to emulate this habitat as closely as possible. Whilst the Rosy Tetra is an adaptable species that will acclimatise to a wide range of conditions, this species will always look its best in soft, acidic water (peat filtration suggested) and the tank must be biologically mature. Rosy Tetras should always be maintained in good sized groups: 6 would be the minimum recommended, 10+ would be better. Not only will the fish feel more secure, but this will result in a far more effective, natural-looking shoal. Ideally, tankmates will also be small and peaceful, and could include Corydoras catfish, hatchetfish, small dwarf cichlids such as Apistogramma or Mikrogeophagus, and some of the smaller Loricariidae (suckermouth catfish). Rosy Tetras can be quite easily frightened, so ensure that they are not housed with boisterous species. This species is very similar to many others in the same genus, some of which remain undescribed. The most commonly seen of these is the Ornate Tetra (M. bentosi). M. rosaceus was, for a long time, considered to be a subspecies of M. bentosi due to their incredible similarity. However, they have since been split into separate species, although are extremely difficult to tell apart. M. bentosi is said to display a negligible dark mark just behind the operculum, which is lacking in M. rosaceus, which also has a darker body colour.
Recent taxonomic work has put this species in the genus Megalamphodus.
Feeding
Offer a varied diet including a good quality flake, micropellets, and small frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, and daphnia.
Breeding
Difficult. Eggs are scattered amongst Java moss/spawning mops placed on the bottom of the breeding aquarium. Parents should be removed after spawning has ceased in order to prevent predation. The eggs should hatch after 24-36 hours, with the fry becoming free-swimming after 5 days. Juveniles should be offered infusoria as a first food.
