Spotted tetra

Copella nattereri

Fishes › Tetras, piranhas and pacus (Characiformes) › Lebiasinidae (Pencilfish and splash tetras)

Copella nattereri. the spotted tetra s a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lebiasinidae, the pencilfishes, splashing tetras and related fishes.

Aquarium hobby

Experience: Intermediate

FamilyPencilfish and splash tetras

Adult lengthup to 1.8 in

WaterFreshwater

Care at a glance

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, 68–82 °F, pH 4–7, 1–5 dGH.
Behaviour: temperament peaceful; a shoaling fish best kept in a group; suited to a community tank.
Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).

Short excerpts from the species profile:

Setup: “Best kept in a densely-planted aquarium or paludarium with some overhanging vegetation, roots or branches important if you wish to raise fry alongside the adults (see 'Reproduction').”
Diet: “Probably a micropredator feeding on tiny invertebrates and other zooplankton in nature.”
Tankmates: “Peaceful but somewhat unsuitable for the general community aquarium.”
Breeding: “This species deposits its eggs among vegetation, these being guarded by the male during incubation.”

From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167

Understanding the animal

About this animal

This fish is found in the upper Amazon basin, as well as the Rio Negro and Orinoco basins.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Copella nattereri” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 175

In the wild

From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Wild conditions are context, not enclosure settings.¹

Where it lives	Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water.
Climate	Tropical climate.
Behavior to plan for	Breeding: clutch tenders.

FishBase species summary: Copella nattereri

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 91°F (up to 94°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 71°F (down to 69°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	79–81°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	80–85% on average (driest month about 78%)
Rainfall	about 2448 mm a year

Measured at 184 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

Data and studies

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Adult length

Average of sources1.8in

FishBase 1641.8

Seriously Fish species profiles 1671.8

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.

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

No federal law singles out this species for private keepers. State and local rules still apply.

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Not covered by the Animal Welfare Act

The Act only covers warm-blooded animals. Reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates have no federal care standards, even at licensed facilities; state and local rules may still apply.

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Has a Seriously Fish aquarium species profile
FishBase records it in the aquarium trade (Aquarium=commercial; AquariumFishII=based mainly on breeding)

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.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.