Cherry Spot Tetra (Jupiaba sp.)

Meet the Cherry Spot Tetra

The Cherry Spot Tetra is a rare South American tetra that most fishkeepers will never have seen in a UK shop. It is a lively, silvery fish of about 7 cm with a dark stripe running along the middle of the flank, a bright cherry-red spot just behind the gill cover and a second red patch at the base of the tail. In a planted tank a group of them catches the light as it turns, and the two red marks stand out against green leaves.

This is not a fish with a long hobby history. It was first published by the German importer Aquarium Glaser, who brought it in from the upper Orinoco region in 2018 and again in 2020 under the working name Jupiaba sp. "Cherry Spot". The importer wrote that it did not resemble any species they knew, which is why it still carries "sp." instead of a full scientific name.

Read the names on the label

The genus placement itself is a best estimate. Aquarium Glaser explains that the fish clearly belong to the broad Astyanax group of tetras and most probably to Jupiaba, but the feature that defines the genus, a pair of elongated, sharp pelvic bones, cannot be seen in a living fish. The body shape reminded them of J. pirana and the stripe of J. anteroides. The importer also points to a black-pigmented lateral line, which they described as unique among the fish they knew, and a prominent spot at the tail root accompanied by two brilliant red spots.

Check what one purchase brings

One purchase quantity supplies one live Cherry Spot Tetra, as a single fish. Order the number you want for your group in one go so the fish travel and settle together. Our photographs show the form of the fish; colour and markings vary a little between individuals, and newly moved tetras are usually paler for the first few days.

Plan the group before you order

• Group size: OATA advises keeping tetras in groups of at least five and says more is better. For a lively, slightly nervous fish like this, we suggest eight or more.
• Size: imported fish measured about 7 cm. Sexes have not been described, so a group gives you the best chance of both.
• Rarity: this fish appears only occasionally. If you are building a collection of unusual characins, our rare and collector fish page lists other fish of this kind.
• Timing: have the aquarium running and fully cycled before the fish arrive, and read our live fish delivery information so someone is at home to unpack them.

Plan the aquarium around an active 7 cm shoal

Cherry Spot Tetras are fast midwater swimmers, and the importer describes them as very lively. Length of tank matters more than height, because the group needs room to swim in a straight line and turn without hitting the glass.

Run a three-step space check

1. Start with the minimum. OATA gives 80 litres or more for tetras that grow beyond 5 cm. Treat that as the floor, not the target.
2. Add length for the group. For eight or more fish of about 7 cm we suggest a tank at least 100 cm long. A longer tank also gives a nervous fish more distance from movement in the room.
3. Check the total stock. Count every fish you plan to keep, including bottom dwellers, with our stocking calculator before you order.

Arrange cover with open swimming water

A layout that gives the fish both shelter and a clear lane keeps them calm and shows their colour. Dense planting along the back and sides, with an open strip of water through the middle and front, suits most active tetras. Dark substrate and some floating plants soften the light, which helps a fish that the importer describes as slightly inclined to panic.

Divide the tank by depth

OATA also recommends placing a tropical tank away from draughts, heat sources, direct sunlight, loud noise, vibration and sudden movement. That advice matters more than usual here: a tank beside a busy door will keep a nervous tetra on edge.

Set water values within a safe tetra range

Because the Cherry Spot Tetra has not been described, no one has published water measurements from its habitat. What we do know is where it was collected: small brooks near Puerto Inírida, a town on the Colombian side of the upper Orinoco basin close to the Venezuelan border. Seriously Fish describes the habitat of another characin from the same region, the red line lizard tetra, as clear and black waters that are acidic and low in minerals, including clear, sandy-bottomed streams in the Orinoco. We therefore lean towards soft to medium water rather than hard water.

Compare the published values with our planning range

OATA also notes that wild-caught fish may need different values from captive-bred stock, which is another reason to keep the water stable and clean rather than chase a precise number. Ammonia and nitrite must read zero, and OATA advises keeping nitrate no more than 20 mg/l above your tap water level.

UK tap water varies from very soft in much of Scotland, Wales and the north and west of England to hard in much of the south and east. If your water is hard, blend it with reverse osmosis water to bring the hardness down gradually, and test before every change. Our water chemistry care guide explains pH, GH and KH in plain terms.

Build filtration and a weekly routine

A group of active 7 cm fish produces a steady load of waste, and an undescribed wild fish has no track record of tolerating poor water. A filter is essential, as OATA says, and it should be matured before the fish arrive. Moderate flow suits a fast swimmer, but leave quieter areas behind plants where the fish can rest.

Follow a weekly maintenance sequence

1. Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and hardness at least once a week, and more often in the first month (OATA).
2. Change at least 25% of the water every week, siphoning waste from the substrate as you go.
3. Treat the new water with a tap water conditioner and match its temperature to the tank.
4. Rinse filter media only in water taken from the tank, never under the tap, so the bacteria survive.
5. Record the results so you notice a drift in pH or nitrate before the fish do.

Feed small varied meals once a day

Feeding studies on this exact fish do not exist, but its relatives are small predators of invertebrates. Practical Fishkeeping's report on two newly described Jupiaba species notes that one fed mainly on aquatic invertebrates and the other on invertebrates and plant material. In the aquarium that means a good dry food as the base, with frozen and live foods several times a week.

Build one measured meal

• How often: once a day, as OATA advises, giving only what the group clears within a few minutes.
• The base: a quality flake or small granule. An insect-based flake food suits a fish whose relatives eat invertebrates.
• The extras: frozen daphnia or small bloodworm two or three times a week. Thaw frozen food in a little tank water first.
• The check: if food reaches the floor uneaten, feed less next time. Leftovers foul the water quickly.

Introduce the group to a mature aquarium

Fish that have travelled are stressed, and a nervous species benefits from a quiet arrival. OATA's floating method is simple: lights off, float the sealed bag for about 10 minutes to match temperature, then add small amounts of tank water to the bag over up to 20 minutes before netting the fish out. Practical Fishkeeping adds that after a long journey ammonia builds up in the bag and pH falls, so once the bag is open you should not drag the process out; move the fish across after temperature matching, or use an ammonia detoxifier in the bag. Our guide on how to acclimatise new fish walks through both methods.

Use a first-week checkpoint plan

Practical Fishkeeping recommends a quarantine or hospital tank whatever the source of your fish. It is especially sensible for a rare, wild-collected species going into an established community.

Watch the group and act on changes

Healthy Cherry Spot Tetras swim together in midwater with fins spread and feed eagerly. OATA lists the signs that something is wrong: hanging at the surface or sitting on the floor, faster breathing, clamped fins, flicking against objects, white spots, fluffy growths, colour that is much darker or paler than usual, and a loss of appetite.

Pair each sign with an action

Choose tank mates of similar size and temperament

OATA's rule for tetras is to keep them with fish of similar size and temperament, away from fish large enough to eat them, and to keep boisterous species away from timid or long-finned fish. For this fish we add one point of our own: a busy, nervous tetra is calmer when it shares the tank with other confident schooling fish. Aquarium Glaser describes Jupiaba as medium-sized schooling fish that suit larger aquaria with cichlids and catfish.

Screen each tank mate with a table

Before you buy, run your planned mix through our tank mate checker, and browse the South American tetra category or our wider tetra range for fish of a matching size. The tetra buying guide explains how tetras of different sizes mix.

Know the limits of what is known

Undescribed fish come with honest gaps. For the Cherry Spot Tetra nobody has published the adult size, how to tell males from females, or how it breeds. Within the genus, FishBase gives Jupiaba pirana a maximum of 4.4 cm standard length and J. anteroides 7.5 cm, while Aquarium Glaser describes the genus as medium-sized schooling fish of 10–15 cm. These figures do not agree, partly because standard length leaves out the tail, so plan your tank for a fish of at least 7 cm.

Note what you see at home

OATA notes that tetras rarely breed successfully in a community tank and that, where they do spawn, eggs hatch within a couple of days. If your group shows clear colour or shape differences as it matures, or if you see spawning behaviour among the plants, note it down: observations from keepers are how fish like this become better understood.

Answer Cherry Spot Tetra buying questions

What is a Cherry Spot Tetra?

It is an undescribed South American tetra traded as Jupiaba sp. "Cherry Spot". Aquarium Glaser, the German importer that first published it, reports fish of about 7 cm from small brooks near Puerto Inírida in the upper Orinoco region, with a dark lateral line, a spot at the tail root and two bright red spots.

Is Jupiaba sp. "Cherry Spot" a scientific name?

No. "sp." means the species has not been formally named. The importer places it in Jupiaba by body shape, but notes that the feature that defines the genus, elongated sharp pelvic bones, cannot be seen in a living fish.

How big does a Cherry Spot Tetra grow?

Imported fish measured about 7 cm. The adult size is not documented. Related Jupiaba range from 4.4 cm standard length (J. pirana) to 7.5 cm (J. anteroides) on FishBase, so plan for a fish of 7 cm or a little more.

How many should I keep together?

OATA advises at least five of any tetra and says more is better. Because this fish is lively and slightly nervous, we suggest a group of eight or more in a tank at least 100 cm long.

What water does it need?

Nobody has published water values for this form. Use the general tetra range from OATA (22–27°C, pH 6.5–8.0, 4–12°dH) and aim for the softer, slightly acidic half of it: about 24–26°C, pH 6.5–7.2 and 4–10°dH.

Is it a good community fish?

Yes, with tank mates of similar size and temperament. Avoid very small nano fish, slow long-finned fish and large predators, and keep it in a full group so it stays confident.

Why do my new Cherry Spot Tetras dart around?

The importer notes a slight tendency to panic. A secure lid, dim lights for the first day, plants along the back and sides, and a calm spot away from doors all help a new group settle.

Will it eat my shrimp?

Adult cherry or Amano shrimp are usually too big for a tetra of this size, but baby shrimp and tiny fry may be eaten. Keep a breeding shrimp colony in its own tank.

Consult the care references

• Aquarium Glaser: Jupiaba sp. "Cherry Spot" (19 October 2020) — origin near Puerto Inírida, size about 7 cm, markings, behaviour and the genus question.
• Aquarium Glaser: Jupiaba sp. "Cherry Spot" (29 August 2018) — the first published import.
• Aquarium Glaser: Jupiaba anteroides (7 February 2024) — notes on the genus, its size and suitable company.
• Wikipedia: Jupiaba — family, author and the list of valid species.
• FishBase: Jupiaba pirana and FishBase: Jupiaba anteroides — sizes and ranges of the two species the importer compared it with.
• Practical Fishkeeping: Two new Jupiaba tetras described — habitat and diet of related species.
• OATA: How to look after tetras and pencilfish — water values, group size, tank size, maintenance, feeding, health signs and compatibility.
• Practical Fishkeeping: How to acclimatise your new fish or shrimp — floating and transport risks, and quarantine.
• Seriously Fish: Iguanodectes geisleri — habitat notes on upper Orinoco and Rio Negro streams.