Ruby Tetra. Species SummaryAppearanceLifespanAverage SizeRuby Tetra CareFood & DietBehavior & TemperamentRuby Tetra Tank MatesBreedingConclusionThe ruby tetra (Axelrodia riesei) is a lesserknown member of the Characidae family A relatively new find compared to other established fish this species first came into the spotlight in 1988 These fish are exclusive to the upper part of Rio Meta in Colombia They’re found in smaller tributaries and streams around the area but they don’t venture too far beyond the confines of their ancestral waters For this reason ruby tetras are not as widespread as other types of tetras If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on some ruby tetras you have several years of enjoyment ahead of you! Thanks to their bright coloration and shoaling nature these fish are a sight to behold in welldecorated tanks Small and peaceful by nature they make excellent additions to nano tanks and small aquariums Despite their small size ruby tetras pack a big visual punch! They have the signature torpedoshaped body of other tetra species The head is rounded and full Meanwhile the tailend tapers to a thin caudal fork The fins are mostly clear However most specimens have subtle streaks of iridescent blue on the fin tips The small detail creates a beautiful effect in the light The rest of the body is orangered The only exception is a black spot on the tailfin In the wild ruby tetras are pretty vivid While still beautiful in captivity most fish experience some dulling Author NoteMales and females look nearly identical The main difference between the two is overall size and girth Males tend to be slightly smaller Not only that but females exhibit a rounder shape around the midsection In good living conditions the average ruby tetra lifespan is between five and ten years As always there are no guarantees with life expectancy Unexpected illness and genetic disease could cut their lives short That said the quality of care you provide has a massive impact on their potential lifespan Providing topnotch care can reduce the chances of common aquatic diseases allowing your ruby tetras to reach the end of their natural lives while staying healthy Fortunately this freshwater species is pretty easy to care for (more on that later) These fish are on the smaller end of the size spectrum The average size of an adult ruby tetra is no more than 16 inches in lengthIt’s quite common for many to never reach this length Author Note Because of their small stature these are great nano fish for small tanks However you must be careful about community environments and potential predators These fish become targets very quickly! As a whole ruby tetra care is no more challenging than any other tetra species However they do have some unique needs you must address These freshwater fish are smaller and more delicate than other species in the trade resulting in distinct challenges at every turn Luckily getting over those issues is a cinch if you abide by the following care guidelines These fish look small and innocent But in the wild they’re considered micro predators They feed on tiny invertebrates insects and anything small enough to fit into their mouth In captivity it’s best to feed them a varied diet that consists of highprotein food Small flakes and pellets work just fine However it’s a good idea to throw in some live foods too Ruby tetras will happily eat Artemia micro worms Tubifex chopped bloodworms and baby brine shrimp They’ll accept freezedried food frozen food and even live food Feed your ruby tetras a few times a day To avoid spoiling the water only provide enough food that your fish can eat in about two minutes Ruby tetras are peaceloving fish that want nothing more than to play and have fun They are a shoaling species That means that they stick together to explore the tank However the fish will sometimes go off and do their own thing Naturally somewhat shy ruby tetras can take a bit of time to come out of their shell This is especially true if there are other fish in the tank They can be a bit anxious when first introduced to a new environment Give them some time and space Eventually the tetras will start to show more friendly behaviors You might see them swimming through plants and hiding in the shadows When there’s a large group these fish will swim throughout the environment as one Author NoteWith many ruby tetras in the same tank you might see smaller clicks form Groups of males can sometimes create defined territories that they’ll defend When this happens don’t be surprised if you see some light sparring While the ruby tetra is a peaceful fish you have limited options for tank mates The small size of these fish makes them instant targets Even in a community of nonaggressive inhabitants ruby tetras can get mistaken for food Your best bet is to keep ruby tetras in large groups They thrive when surrounded by others of the same species A group of at least six fish is a must but you can always go bigger Beyond other ruby tetras you can try 1 Otocinclus 2 Corydoras Catfish 3 Pencil Fish 4 Apistogramma 5 Neon Tetras 6 Kuhli Loaches 7 Boraras 8 Aquarium Snails & Shrimp Breeding ruby tetras isn’t too tricky In mature tanks spawning sometimes occurs naturally without any intervention! However those looking to maximize survival rates should breed these fish in a separate tankRuby tetras do not protect eggs or show any parental instincts so you must provide some separation between the adults and the fry In a separate 10gallon tank create a similar environment as the main aquarium Add many fineleaf plants Ruby tetras are eggscatterers so you need the plants to provide protection Some leaf litter is recommended too The debris has microorganisms that the fry can eat once they emerge from the egg Keep the lights low and raise the temperature a few degrees higher than the main tank When adding adult fish use more females than males It shouldn’t take long for breeding to occur Females will scatter their eggs all over the tank When this happens remove the adults and let the eggs incubate in peace After a couple of days the eggs will Ruby tetra care is quite manageable no matter how much experience you have This freshwater species is fairly lowmaintenance and a lot of fun to observe! We hope you consider this fish for your next freshwater aquarium If you have any questions just let us know!.
The Ruby Tetra is a beautiful small fish that has a Peaceful disposition with other fish and invertebrates They are very active and are an excellent addition to both nano and planted aquariums However they are not suitable for the community aquarium because of their small size and may feel intimidated and be outcompeted for food Also this Tetra is a delicate species and requires specific Order CharaciformesScientific Name Axelrodia rieseiOther Names None.
Ruby Tetra 101: Care, Tank Size, Food, Lifespan & More!
The Ruby Tetra is known only from the upper Rio Meta a major tributary of the Rio Orinoco in Colombia Few details are known of the natural habitat but the favoured environments are thought to be sluggish or almost still and crowded with dense vegetation and an abundance of leaf litter The water is very soft and acidic and stained a tea colour from the tannins in the decaying leaves and Distribution Upper Meta River basin ColombiaSynonyms NoneMaximum Size 25cm (1″).
Ruby Tetras: How Do You Raise Them
Ruby Tetra A Brief DescriptionSocial Behavior and Tank MatesFish Keeping DifficultiesCaring For Ruby TetraFish DiseasesBreedingConclusionThe Ruby Tetra(Axelrodia riesei) is a species of freshwater fish in the family Characidae Dating back to its discovery in 1988 this Tetra is an inhabitant of leaf litter and floating plants with clean yet acidic water rich in tannins It originated from the upper Río Meta Colombia South America Ruby Tetra are comparatively hard to breed It requires specific tropical climates for survival Therefore Ruby Tetra is not frequently available Ruby Tetra can be distinguished by its small ruby red tinted body transparent fins and a black spot at the end of its tail It shows a faded red and orange color when captivated however regains it once it has suitable conditions to live in Ruby Tetra are comparatively smaller in size and can grow up to 16 inches (4 cm) approximately This fish can survive up to a maximum of 10 years if taken care of properly Ruby Tetra has a lifespanof 510 years on average As a matter of fact Ruby Tetra like other Tetra species shows sexual dimorphis Ruby Tetra are peaceful and shoaling species rather than most schooling Tetras However they are territorial in nature This is what makes them shoaling rather than a schooling species For starters they are shy in nature which makes them sociable yet not exactly a community fish Besides Ruby Tetra should be kept in a tank along with its own species Keeping a group might show you some of its territorial behavior as well Ruby Tetra due to their small size and requirements can be paired with only fewer genus of fish although they are recommended to be kept alone Tank matesfor this Tetra include Corydoras catfish Otocinclus spp dwarf cichlids pencil fish and other small blackwater tetras like Neon Tetra Small Asian Rasbora Boraras invertebrates and Kuhli loaches get along well with the fish as well Rather one must be careful while choosing which fish to pair with Summing up small and peaceful species of fish go along well with this Tetra A group of 8 or 10 is be One might even consider Ruby Tetra as an exotic Tetra for its size and appearance However with this comes the fish keeping difficulty Ruby Tetra requires a lot of maintenance from creating a suitable environment and diet from beginning to the end Ruby Tetra is a delicate species of Tetra It requires specific conditions to live in and is quite needy It is comparatively harder to look after than most Tetras Also Ruby Tetra requires special care during the breeding process You need to consider special and controlled care for the Tetra including the diet if you plan to keep it with other species It is evident that Ruby Tetra is not the easiest breed to handle The fish is comparatively harder to handle and on top it needs a smaller tank as it likes to be kept alone Therefore previous experience in fish keeping would help a lot in situations and the fish is definitely not for a newbie unless a very dedicated one Having a fish is just like having a baby except for the fact that Ruby Tetra looks like an actual baby when you get them premature This tiny delicate Ruby Tetra is not a hardy fish This means you need to pay extra attention to the fish Also the fish has it’s own demands as well Here’s all you need to be aware of while caring for Ruby Tetra in your freshwater tank Diseases in fish are inevitable to any living being including fish Even a well maintained tank fish are susceptible to diseases Therefore very careful steps need to be taken while maintaining a tank Ruby Tetra is a delicate species of Tetra Special care needs to be taken care of the fish Although it can survive up to 10 years it is all because of the proper maintenance of the fish As a freshwater fish Ruby Tetra can commonly be prone to following diseases 1 skin flukes 2 Ich 3 gene inherited diseases 4 parasitic infestations 5 bacterial infections etc Read Full article on Tetra Fish Diseases Therefore no matter how much resilient or delicate your fish is you need to be aware of the following things 1 Firstly considering the fauna of the tank is an equally important parameter that can cause stress to the fish In contrast Ruby Tetra goes with a few species and should not preferably be kept with more than 3 species of fish 2 Creating a tank with similar Ruby Tetra is not always available in the market It is comparatively hard to breed due to its delicate nature On top it cannot travel long distances To breed this Tetra a controlled situation should be maintained The base water condition for breeding Ruby Tetra includes an acidic environment with less KH Hence it is best to use treated water with a ROID unit and then adding acidic components Read Full Article on How to Breed Tetra Fish A finely planted tank with a smallsized aquarium is the best condition where the fish find enough space to breed The temperature should be increased by a little and the lights should be made dimmer Besides this the fish is sensitive to organic waste So it is better not to introduce such items Also feeding the fish is equally important during the process However having leaf litter is a good choice for the fry after the breeding process Ruby Tetra are egg scatterers They do not take care of their eggs The eggs are spread all over One of the smallest species of Tetra which is as stunning as all the other fish is the Ruby Tetra Furthermore Ruby Tetra might have a few demands but you can be assured that it is definitely worth the keep Ruby Tetras are a great keep for planted nano aquariums as well Certainly Ruby Tetra will stand out in your planted freshwater aquarium with its beautiful ruby red essence I hope you have found the importance of this hidden gem in your aquarium Behavior Community and peaceful fishOrigin Colombia South AmericaCare Level EasySize Approximately 16 inches (4 cm).
Ruby TetraAxelrodia riesei Fishkeeper
The Ruby Tetra is tiny compared to other Tetra fish The average adult Ruby Tetra size ranges from 0608 inches —just about half of other Tetra fish! When cared for these fish can live quite long and happy lives in your aquarium The Ruby Tetra lifespan is known to range from 5 to 10 years.
Ruby Tetra 101 Care Tank Size Food Lifespan More
Ruby Tetra — Axelrodia riesei – Seriously Fish
Ruby Tetra Care Sheet The Perfect Red Pigmented Tetra
Ruby Tetra (Axelrodia riesei) Fish Profile & Care Guide
EtymologyDistributionHabitatAquarium Sizetop ↑MaintenanceDietBehaviour and Compatibilitytop ↑Sexual DimorphismReproductionNotestop ↑Axelrodia named for Dr Herbert R Axelrod riesei named for William Riese who collected this species alongside Dr Axelrod Type locality is ‘Upper Río Meta basin east of Villavicencio Colombia’ and this species is currently known only from the upper Meta The Meta is a tributary within the larger Río Orinoco system Said to be an inhabitant of blackwater environments but detailed information is lacking Presumably it inhabits smaller forested tributaries rather than larger river channels Despite its small size minimum base dimensions of 60 ∗ 30cmor equivalent are recommended for longterm care though smaller aquaria can be used for breeding Bestmaintained in a wellstructured setup ideally comprising a sandy substrate plus some driftwood roots and branches The addition of dried leaf litter further emphasises the natural feel and as well as offering additional cover for the fish brings with it the growth of microbe colonies as decompositionoccurs These can provide a valuable secondary food source for fryand the tannins and other chemicals released by the decaying leaves are also considered beneficial for fishes from blackwater environments Alder cones may also be used for the latter purpose This species seems to do best under fairly dim lighting You can add aquatic plant species that can survive under such conditions such as Microsorum Taxiphyllum or Cryptocoryne spp while floating vegetation especially Ceratopterisspp is also useful For breeding purposes acidic conditions with negligible carbonate hardness and very low general hardness are required so a reverse osmosis unit or other method of obtaining s Probably a micropredator feeding on tiny invertebrates and other zooplanktonin nature In the aquarium it will normally accept dried foods of a suitably small size but should also be offered daily meals of small live and frozen fare such as Artemia naupliiDaphniaMoina grindal worm etc Peaceful with other species but does not make an ideal communityfish due to its small size and somewhat specialised requirements Ideally it should be maintained alone or at most with diminutive nonaggressive characids and smaller callichthyid or loricariid catfishes Though gregarious by nature it’s a shoaling rather than schooling specieswith rival males forming small territories and sparring on a regular basis 810 specimens should be the minimum purchase since the fish will be less shy and display more interesting behaviour Adult males are slightly smaller and more intenselycoloured than females Sexually mature females appear rounderbodied than males especially when gravid It’s unclear whether the differences in colour pattern in newlyimported wild fish (see ‘Notes’) relate to gender or not Has been achieved and in a properlystructured mature aquarium it’s possible that small numbers of frymay start to appear without intervention The main requirements are soft slightly acidic water and provision of fineleaved plants such as Taxiphylumor similar within which the fish will spawn Addition of leaf litter is also recommended due to the microorganisms which colonise it as decomposition occurs since these constitute a useful food source for fry Once in condition adults spawn on a daily basis so if attempting to breed this species in controlled conditions a pair or male and several females can be placed in a smaller aquarium and removed after a few days with the eggs and fry left to hatch and grow in the spawning tank This species is less often seen than its congener A stigmatias in the aquarium hobby presumably a reflection of its more remote restricted natural range The red pigmentation on the body can vary in both extent and intensity and apparently begins to fade when the fish have been maintained in aquaria for a period Axelrodia was proposed as a new genus when it was revealed that the type species Hyphessobrycon stigmatiaspossessed only a single row of conical teeth and therefore could not be a member of that grouping The most recent diagnosis of all three current members appears to be that of Géry (1977) in which A rieseiis distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters 1415 analfin rays 710 premaxillary and 45 maxillary teeth body depth 3135 times in SL suborbital bone large and ‘reduced’ body red in life It’s similar to A stigmatiasbut can be told apart by its lesselongate body (depth 3135 times vs 45 times in SL) live body colour.