Freshwater
Erythrinus erythrinus
Erythrinidae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 20 cm
- Body shape
- Elongated
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 192 liters
- Diet
- Missing
Know what is missing? Suggest it in the app.
Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
Native
Lives wild in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and Venezuela.
Videos
Erythrinus erythrinus PERU
Oliver KnottDec 25, 2025
More about the species
Description
Lives in creeks and marshy zones where it can survive in water with low oxygen levels due to some anatomical modification of its swim bladder which serves as a respiratory appendage. It stays on the bottom as well as at the surface among floating vegetation. Feeds on small fishes and insects. Known among aquarists since 1910, its culture is reputedly difficult and its reproduction in captivity has not been reported to date. Reported to reach around 25 cm SL.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Erythrinus brevicauda
- Erythrinus longipinnis
- Erythrinus salmoneus
- Synodus erythrinus
In other languages
- Rosvotetra
Articles
All articles
Fish that get along4 min read
Temperament, fin nippers, fish that eat other fish, and fish that need the same water. And what the Harmony mark in the app means.
How to set up a South American aquarium4 min read
Soft, acidic water, subdued light, sand, roots and fallen leaves: how to set up a biotope aquarium from the Amazon and the rivers around it.
How to set up a Central American aquarium5 min read
Hard, alkaline water, sand and rock: an aquarium from the rivers and lakes of Mexico and Central America, with cichlids and livebearers.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.