Photo: Cedricguppy - Loury Cédric (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Jelly Bean Tetra (Ladigesia roloffi)
A jewel-sized West African tetra blazing with a red tail — perfect for the nano blackwater setup.
Will it live with a Jelly Bean Tetra?
We compare each fish against your jelly bean tetra on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- African Dwarf Frog✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Amapá Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Amapá Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blue Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Emperor Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blue Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cardinal Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Cardinal Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Emperor Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Flame Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Gold Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Gold Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Golden Dwarf Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Golden Dwarf Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Marbled Hatchetfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Marbled Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Otocinclus✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 21–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Phoenix Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Phoenix Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Purple Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Purple Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rainbow Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Red Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Red Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rosy Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rosy Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rummy Nose Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Sparkling Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Strawberry Betta✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Threadfin Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Threadfin Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Otocinclus✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tiger Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Yellow Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Yellow Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Black Darter Tetra and Jelly Bean Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add jelly bean tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Black Ruby Barb and Jelly Bean Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add jelly bean tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Ruby Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Skirt Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Expect Black Skirt Tetra to harass Jelly Bean Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Skirt Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Turbo Snail⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Jelly Bean Tetra 5–7 vs Blue Turbo Snail 7.5–8.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cherry Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Jelly Bean Tetra may eat Cherry Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Desert Goby⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Expect Desert Goby to harass Jelly Bean Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ghost Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Jelly Bean Tetra may eat Ghost Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Humpbacked Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Humpbacked Tetra to harass Jelly Bean Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Humpbacked Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Morse Code Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Morse Code Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Serpae Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Expect Serpae Tetra to harass Jelly Bean Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Silvertip Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Silvertip Tetra and Jelly Bean Tetra are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add jelly bean tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Silvertip Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotfin Betta⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Expect Spotfin Betta to harass Jelly Bean Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Striped Red-Eye Puffer⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Striped Red-Eye Puffer and Jelly Bean Tetra are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add jelly bean tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Badis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–24 °C (72–75 °F)
- Tiger Badis is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Jelly Bean Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3 cm · Hard care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Jelly Bean Tetra may eat Tiger Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tiger Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wine Red Betta⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Wine Red Betta to harass Jelly Bean Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (250 vs 4 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Jelly Bean Tetra as food.
- Alligator Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Jelly Bean Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Jelly Bean Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
- Clown Knifefish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Jelly Bean Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Jelly Bean Tetra is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
- Fire Eel clearly outsizes Jelly Bean Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Jelly Bean Tetra is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Jelly Bean Tetra whole.
- Redtail Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Jelly Bean Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 4 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Jelly Bean Tetra as food.
- Spotted Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Jelly Bean Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Wels Catfish (300 cm) is big enough to swallow the 4 cm Jelly Bean Tetra whole.
- Wels Catfish clearly outsizes Jelly Bean Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Size gap is too large (72 vs 4 cm): Wolf Cichlid will treat Jelly Bean Tetra as food.
- Wolf Cichlid clearly outsizes Jelly Bean Tetra and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Jelly Bean Tetra care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Max size
- 4 cm (1.6 in)
- Min tank size
- 40 L (10.6 gal)
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- pH
- 5–7
- Hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Middle
- Group size
- 10+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Alestidae
- Origin
- West Africa — Sierra Leone and Liberia (soft, acidic forest streams)
What is a Jelly Bean Tetra?
The Jelly Bean Tetra (Ladigesia roloffi) is a micro-tetra from the rainforest streams of Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa. It reaches just 3–4 cm (about 1.5 in) and is immediately recognisable by the contrast between its translucent silver body and vivid cherry-red caudal and dorsal fins — a colour pattern that earns it the “jelly bean” nickname. It is the sole species in the genus Ladigesia and belongs to the African tetra family Alestidae, which also includes the larger and more commonly kept Congo Tetra.
Ladigesia roloffi is currently listed as Endangered by the IUCN, primarily due to habitat destruction across its narrow West African range. Finding it requires effort — specialist importers and conservation-minded breeders are the most reliable sources. For fishkeepers prepared to meet its water chemistry and social requirements, it is one of the most rewarding nano species available, offering constant schooling movement and a colour display that punches well above its size.
Where does the Jelly Bean Tetra come from?
Wild Jelly Bean Tetras inhabit small, shaded forest streams and coastal drainage systems in Sierra Leone and Liberia. These are soft, acidic blackwater environments where decomposing leaf litter and humus stain the water brown with tannins, pH routinely dips below 6.0, and total dissolved solids are extremely low. The canopy overhead filters sunlight to a dim, diffuse glow, and the substrate is typically fine sand or mud covered in leaf debris.
Flow in these streams tends to be gentle to moderate, not the strong currents of river channels. Temperatures range from around 20 °C in cooler seasons to 26 °C at the height of the wet season. Understanding this origin is the key to keeping this species successfully — everything about its tank setup must reflect these blackwater forest conditions.
What tank size and setup does the Jelly Bean Tetra need?
The minimum tank for a school of 10 Jelly Bean Tetras is 40 litres (approximately 10 gallons), but a longer footprint is always preferable to height — this is an active mid-water schooler that uses horizontal space. A tank in the 60–80 L (15–21 gal) range with a long, low profile suits a group of 12–15 fish well and gives room to aquascape appropriately.
Replicating the blackwater forest environment matters more here than in many community setups:
- Substrate: Fine, dark sand with a layer of dried Indian almond or beech leaves on the surface. The leaf litter releases tannins, creates foraging opportunities and visually matches wild conditions.
- Planting: Fine-leaved plants like Java moss, Rotala, Cabomba or floating Salvinia provide cover and break up sight lines. Dense planting along the back and sides encourages the fish to school out in the open rather than hide.
- Lighting: Subdued. Bright overhead light washes out colour and stresses the fish. Use floating plants or a low-output fixture, and expect the best colour display to come in dimmer conditions.
- Filtration: Gentle. A small sponge filter or a hang-on filter fitted with a spray bar angled along the back glass keeps water clean without creating currents too strong for nano fish. Over-powered filtration is a common mistake with small tetras.
What water parameters does the Jelly Bean Tetra need?
The Jelly Bean Tetra’s natural range is firmly in soft, acidic blackwater territory. Matching this is non-negotiable for long-term health and genuine colour display:
- Temperature: 20–26 °C (68–79 °F). This is slightly cooler than many tropical fish, and the species handles the lower end of its range without difficulty — do not push the tank above 26 °C.
- pH: 5.0–7.0. The sweet spot for colour and breeding is 5.5–6.5. Water at neutral or above is tolerated short-term but is not optimal.
- Hardness: 2–15 dGH. Aim for the soft end — 2–8 dGH is ideal. Very hard tap water needs to be softened with reverse osmosis or mixed with RO water before use.
Peat filtration, Indian almond leaves and commercially available blackwater extracts all help lower pH and soften water naturally while releasing beneficial tannins. Stability is as important as the numbers themselves — slow, stable chemistry is far less stressful than water that swings between changes. Always age and condition water before adding it to the tank.
What does the Jelly Bean Tetra eat?
In the wild, Ladigesia roloffi feeds opportunistically on small invertebrates, insect larvae and organic particles drifting through the water column — a classic omnivore diet skewed toward small live prey. In captivity, varied feeding produces the best colour, growth and breeding condition.
Offer a staple of quality micro-pellets or finely crushed flake as the daily base, then rotate in:
- Micro-worms and banana worms — excellent live foods that stimulate natural feeding behaviour
- Baby brine shrimp (live or frozen) — a reliable favourite and a good conditioning food
- Daphnia — live or frozen; doubles as a gentle laxative and encourages activity
- Frozen cyclops or micro-bloodworm — feed sparingly as treats
Feed small amounts twice daily. This species has a small mouth and stomach; only offer what disappears in two minutes. Overfeeding fouled water is a leading cause of health problems in soft-water nano tanks.
How does the Jelly Bean Tetra behave — and what fish can live with it?
Jelly Bean Tetras are peaceful, sociable and schooling. When kept in a group of 10 or more, they spend most of their time swimming together through the mid-water zone, occasionally breaking formation to investigate the substrate or dart for food. Undersized groups of fewer than 8 fish become nervous, hide constantly and rarely display their red colouration — the group size is not a preference, it is a welfare requirement.
Because the species is small, delicate and prefers soft acidic water, its compatibility options are narrower than many community fish. Good companions must share the same water chemistry, not be boisterous enough to outcompete them for food, and not be large enough to treat a 4 cm tetra as prey. Suitable tank-mates include other small, peaceful West African or blackwater species — small rasboras, pygmy corydoras, Otocinclus and small Apistogramma species kept in appropriately soft water are workable options. Avoid any fish with a reputation for fin-nipping, any fish significantly larger than 6–7 cm, and fast, aggressive feeders that will deny the tetras their share.
For a full breakdown of compatible and incompatible species, see Jelly Bean Tetra tank mates.
How do you tell male and female Jelly Bean Tetras apart?
Sexing adult Jelly Bean Tetras is possible but requires a practiced eye. Males are noticeably slimmer in body profile and display significantly more intense red colouration in both the caudal and dorsal fins — in prime condition, the red is deep and saturated. Females are fuller-bodied, particularly apparent when viewed from above when gravid with eggs, and carry a duller, less saturated version of the red fin colouration.
In a healthy, well-fed group the difference becomes easier to read over time. Juveniles are difficult or impossible to sex reliably; wait until the fish are at least 2–3 months old before attempting to identify pairs.
How do you breed Jelly Bean Tetras?
Breeding Ladigesia roloffi in captivity is rated hard and remains an uncommon achievement. The species is an egg-scatterer — no parental care is provided after spawning, and eggs and fry must be separated from the adults immediately to prevent predation.
Conditioning a group with a rich diet of live and frozen foods over several weeks is the standard first step. A dedicated breeding tank of around 20–30 L (5–8 gal) with very soft, acidic water (pH 5.5–6.0, hardness below 5 dGH) and fine-leaved plants or spawning mops provides the best environment. Dim lighting and the addition of fresh, slightly cooler soft water can help trigger spawning activity.
Eggs are small and adhesive and will be scattered into plants or mops. Remove the adults as soon as spawning is observed. Fry are extremely small at hatching and require infusoria or commercial first foods before graduating to micro-worms and baby brine shrimp as they grow. Water quality during rearing is critical — small, frequent water changes with matched-parameter water keep mortality low.
What diseases affect Jelly Bean Tetras?
Soft-water nano species like the Jelly Bean Tetra are most vulnerable to problems that stem from poor water quality and inappropriate chemistry. The most common conditions to watch for are:
- Ich (white spot disease): White pinhead spots across the body and fins, often triggered by temperature drops or stress from transport. Maintaining stable temperatures and quarantining all new fish are the primary preventions.
- Velvet (Oodinium): A dusty gold or rust-coloured sheen, often first visible in raking light. More common in fish stressed by overcrowding or fluctuating water conditions.
- Bacterial infections and fin deterioration: Fraying or discolouring fins usually indicate water quality problems — elevated ammonia, nitrite or organic load. Address the root cause before anything else.
- Internal parasites: Possible in wild-caught specimens; a quarantine protocol before introducing new fish to an established tank catches most issues before they spread.
Health note: Disease identification and medication dosing are beyond the scope of a care profile. If fish show signs of illness, confirm symptoms against a reputable veterinary or fish-health reference before treating. Many problems resolve with water-quality improvements alone.
How long does the Jelly Bean Tetra live?
A well-kept Jelly Bean Tetra lives 3–5 years. The lower end of that range is more common in typical aquarium conditions; fish maintained in consistently soft, acidic, clean water with a good varied diet and appropriate group sizes reach the upper end more reliably. Because the species is rarely available as captive-bred stock, wild-caught specimens may arrive already past their juvenile stage — factor that in when assessing how long a newly purchased group is likely to live.
Frequently asked questions
How many Jelly Bean Tetras should I keep together?
At least 10, ideally more. This is a highly social schooling species — small groups become shy and stressed, which suppresses their colour and makes them prone to disease. A group of 15+ in a species-appropriate tank is where they genuinely thrive.
Is the Jelly Bean Tetra hard to find?
Yes. Ladigesia roloffi is an IUCN Endangered species rarely available from mainstream retailers. Source from specialist West African fish importers or breeders who work with conservation-minded stock.
What you need to keep a jelly bean tetra
The baseline is a heated, filtered 40 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 20–26 °C (68–79 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a jelly bean tetra in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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