All fish / Chalceidae

Pink-tail chalceus

Chalceus macrolepidotus

Also known as pink tail chalceus, pinktail chalceus, pink-tailed characin, large-scaled characin, pink tail characin, chalceus, red tail chalceus, カルケウス・マクロレピドトゥス, 粉尾鲑脂鲤, 红尾平克

A sleek, torpedo-shaped characin with large reflective silver scales and a pink to red tail, plus yellowish to pink pelvic fins. It is kept as a lively, fast-moving centrepiece for big community tanks with similarly sized robust fish.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

22 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

5.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

600 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more in a large tank; single fish become nervous and pairs often fight

Diet

Carnivore: insects, prawns, earthworms, quality pellets, frozen foods and small fish

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Orinoco basin, Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana) and parts of the Amazon basin

Breeding

An egg-scattering species that has rarely been bred in home aquariums. Little reliable detail is available on spawning in captivity, and most fish in the trade are wild caught.

Good to know

It grows to over 20 cm, jumps readily so needs a tight lid, and will eat any fish small enough to swallow. It can be nippy and skittish, so avoid slow, long-finned tankmates.