Splash tetra

📖 Overview

Occurs in groups at the surface of small creeks with clear waters. Also found in ponds where it is found together with Rivulus . Feeds on Ephemeroptera larvae and ants ; also on worms, insects and crustaceans . Known among aquarists by its unique breeding behavior and parental care: male and the female line up side by side at the surface of the water and jump together out of the water, to spawn. The fertilized eggs are then laid on the underside of an emergent leaf and the male then splashes them with its tail for about three days until they hatch, hence the popular name 'Splash tetra'. It was also observed that just before lining up to jump out of the water toward the upper glass of the aquarium, the female follows the male, touching her abdomen at the anterodorsal portion of the male several times, swimming agitatedly . The spawned eggs are deposited on submerged leaves and are guarded by the males . During incubation, the male oxygenates the eggs .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 37. This species is distinguished from all its congeners, except some specimens of C. nattereri by the procurrent caudal-fin rays that are hyaline (vs. black); further differs from C. nattereri by the absence of a black mark on each body scale (vs. presence); further differs from all its congeners by having a pigmented area extending anterodorsally from ventral tip of the dentary to ventral portion of the eye (vs. absent). Colouration: some males are unique in having brilliant white spots on scales of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth longitudinal scale rows .: elongated; Cross section: circular.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Splash tetra is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

Deposits eggs on underside of objects above the water surface. Male in water splashes the clutch periodically . In the aquarium, male and female swim vertically to the surface, flick their tails and leap up to a leaf. Female lays from 5 to 8 eggs on the leaf and male fertilizes them immediately. This procedure is repeated several times until some hundreds of eggs have been laid. Male then keeps the eggs damp by flicking his tail to spray them with water. As eggs hatch, fry fall into the water .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 12. Tropical; 25°C - 29°C South America: lower rio Amazonas basin, coastal drainages of Pará and Amapá, Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Surinam, mouth of rio Orinoco, and coastal drainages of Sucre and Monagas, Venezuela.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Splash tetra is an edible species."

⚡ Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for Splash tetra is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Splash tetra has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

📊 Population Dynamics

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language	Common Names
🇬🇧English	Splash Tetra · Spraying Tetra · jumping characin · spraying characin
🌍AFR	Characin
🌍CES	štíhlotělka skákavá · štíhlotělka stříkavá
🇩🇪German	Spritzsalmler
🇫🇷French	Mulet montagne · Tétra-sauteur · Tétra-sauteur, Characin arroseur
🇭🇺Hungarian	Fecskendező pontylazac
🇳🇱Dutch	Spatzalm
🇵🇱Polish	smukleń pryskacz
🇵🇹Portuguese	Copella · Piratanta
🇷🇺Russian	Копелла Арнольда
🇪🇸Spanish	Ti-yaya

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name	Author	Year	Status
Copeina arnoldi	Regan	1912	Synonym

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Splash tetra.

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 13 records indexed .

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