Home / Fishes / Tetras, piranhas and pacus / Sierra leone dwarf characin
No federal permit to keepSierra leone dwarf characin
Ladigesia roloffi
Fishes › Tetras, piranhas and pacus (Characiformes) › Alestidae (African tetras)
Ladigesia is monospecific genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 1.2 in / 3.1 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–79°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–7.
- Hardness: 0–10 dGH.
- Layout: An open-water swimmer: needs long, open swimming space with few obstacles.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 24 × 12 in (roughly 14 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: soft, acidic water, 68–79 °F, pH 5–7, 1–8 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Best-maintained in a well-structured set-up, ideally comprising a sandy substrate plus some driftwood roots and branches.”
- Diet: “Probably a micropredator feeding on tiny invertebrates and other zooplankton in nature.”
- Tankmates: “Peaceful with other species but does not make an ideal community fish due to its small size and somewhat specialised requirements.”
- Breeding: “Not often bred in aquaria although it is apparently possible with soft, acidic water a prerequisite.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
African tetras
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: African freshwater habitats range from the Congo drainage occupied by Congo tetras to large rivers and lakes inhabited by giant tigerfish. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Adult Congo tetras need at least 120 × 30 × 30 cm (about 48 × 12 × 12 inches).
- For Congo tetras, combine plants, floating vegetation and driftwood with open swimming space and good circulation.
- Congo-tetra source parameters are pH 6.0–7.5 and hardness 3–18 dGH; maintain consistently high water quality.
- Hydrocynus goliath needs a facility-scale system: the source suggests roughly 15,000 litres rather than a home aquarium.
- For giant tigerfish, prioritize oxygenation, clean water and open swimming space with minimal hard decor.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 73.4–82.4°F |
Diet
- For Congo tetras: suitable dried omnivore foods including algae-based foods.
- For Congo tetras: small live or frozen worms, insects and crustaceans.
- For tigerfish: appropriately sized dead fish such as whitebait.
Social life
- Congo tetras suit mixed-sex shoals with peaceful companions; fin-nippers damage male fins. Adult giant tigerfish should be kept alone and may attack smaller fish without warning.
Handling
- Giant tigerfish require professional separation and maintenance procedures because adults pose a serious bite hazard.
Health watch
- Ammonia toxicity.
- Nutritional deficiencies.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
The only species in the genus is Ladigesia roloffi, the Sierra Leone dwarf characin, is a species that is found in Sierra Leone and Liberia, Africa. The fish was named in honor of German aquarist Erhard Roloff (1903–1980), who collected the type specimen.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Ladigesia” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–79 °F (22–26 °C), pH 6–7, hardness 10 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–79 °F.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Ladigesia is monospecific genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Alestidae, the African tetras. The only species in the genus is Ladigesia roloffi, the Sierra Leone dwarf characin, is a species that is found in Sierra Leone and Liberia, Africa. The fish was named in honor of German aquarist Erhard Roloff (1903–1980), who collected the type specimen. They are a social species generally living in schools at mid depths and surface level fresh water. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | This species measures a length of 3 to 4 cm, making it a small fish species. Because of its small size, it is referred to as a "dwarf" animal. It has no anal spines, 16 to 17 anal soft rays and has an incomplete lateral line. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 24 × 12 in (about 14 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish — Phenacogrammus interruptus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — Hydrocynus goliath Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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