All fish / Lebiasinidae

Splash Tetra

Copella arnoldi

Also known as spraying characin, splashing tetra, jumping characin, arnold's tetra, copeina arnoldi, splash tetra copella, コペラ・アーノルディ, スプラッシュテトラ, 溅水鱼, 喷水鱼

A slim, pencil-shaped characin with a brownish body and orange to red tints in the fins, and males have long, flowing fins with a dark spot on the dorsal fin edged with white. It lives near the surface and is kept mainly for its unusual breeding habit, which can be seen in a home aquarium.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

24 to 29 °C

pH

5.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp, plus quality flakes and fruit flies

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lower Amazon basin and coastal rivers of Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana

Breeding

The pair leap out of the water together and stick their eggs to a leaf or the cover glass above the surface, and the male then splashes them with his tail every so often for two to three days until they hatch. It breeds fairly readily in a tank with overhanging leaves or a smooth lid and a gap of several centimetres above the water.

Good to know

A very good jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential. Keep with small, calm tankmates, as larger or boisterous fish will intimidate it.