Jellybean Tetra (Ladigesia roloffi)
The Jelly Bean Tetra is a peaceful, lively, active and gregarious species; therefore, you should keep them in groups of at least eight individuals as this is essential for this small fish's well-being. However, due to their shy nature and water requirements, it would be best to house them in a species only aquarium. You can keep Jelly Bean Tetras with other small fish species as long as they do not out-compete them for food.
The best environment for jelly bean tetras is one with a well-structured set-up, ideally including sand and driftwood branches. Dried leaves further enhance the natural feel and provide additional cover for the fish. However, the decomposition of the leaves will also produce microbe colonies. Babies can benefit from these colonies as a secondary food source. Due to the fact that these fish live in blackwater environments, tannins and other chemical compounds released by decaying leaves are also beneficial to them.
It is better to keep Jelly Bean Tetras in relatively dim lighting. However, there are plants that can survive under these conditions, such as Microsorum, Taxiphyllum, or Cryptocoryne. The presence of floating vegetation is also helpful and will be appreciated.
The body of the Jelly Bean Tetra is torpedo-shaped and is usually green in colour. However, the fins are the most charming feature of this species, being that the caudal and dorsal fins have orange central highlights along their length tipped with black and a thin white trailing edge.
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| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ladigesia roloffi |
| Year Described | 1968 |
| Other Names | Sierra Leone Dwarf Characin |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Characiformes |
| Family | Alestidae |
| Genus | Ladigesia |
| Origins | Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 8+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 3 - 5 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 5.5 - 7.5 |
| GH | 1 - 12 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 72 - 79℉ 22.2 - 26.1℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Jellybean Tetra will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.
Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.
It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.
This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.
Sexual Dimorphism
It is somewhat easy to differentiate males from females. The male's anterior anal fin is slightly extended, unlike the female's who remain straight, and in the breeding season, the males are much more vibrantly coloured. In contrast, females are more rounder bodied than males.