TankBud

Bleeding heart tetra

Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Also known as Megalamphodus erythrostigma

FreshwaterFish

Bleeding heart tetra (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma)
H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
70–81°F
21–27°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Characidae
Origin
Peru

Overview

The bleeding heart tetra is a peaceful schooling tetra for a community tank. It is an easy fish to keep.

Did you know

Male bleeding heart tetras display to each other by spreading their long fins fully and circling, which shows off the red heart spot. It is a standoff to settle rank rather than a real fight, and it brings out their best color.

Caring for the bleeding heart tetra

Keep six or more bleeding heart tetras in 20 gal (75 L) or larger. A planted tank with some open mid-water space, soft light and a few leaves on the bottom suits them.

Keep the water at 70 to 81°F (21 to 27°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. They are not fussy eaters and take flake, pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.

They work the middle layers and are peaceful and easygoing, so they suit a community of similarly sized calm fish. Males grow longer, more pointed dorsal and anal fins. Bleeding heart tetras are egg scatterers, and breeding them is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

The bleeding heart tetra is a characin in the family Characidae. It is one of the larger small tetras, with a tall, full body. Its common name comes from the single red spot that sits over the heart. Its conservation status is Least Concern.

In the wild

Bleeding heart tetras come from the slow, shaded waters of the upper Amazon in Peru. The substrate there is leaf litter and debris, the water runs soft and acidic, and the tree cover keeps things dim.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The bleeding heart tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a bleeding heart tetra need?

A bleeding heart tetra needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a bleeding heart tetra need?

A bleeding heart tetra is comfortable at 70–81°F (21–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a bleeding heart tetra eat?

A bleeding heart tetra is not a fussy eater. It takes flake, pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.

How big does a bleeding heart tetra get?

An adult bleeding heart tetra reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

Does a bleeding heart tetra need a group?

Yes. A bleeding heart tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How can you tell a male bleeding heart tetra from a female?

Males grow longer, more pointed dorsal and anal fins than females.

How does a bleeding heart tetra breed?

Bleeding heart tetras are egg scatterers. Spawning them rates medium difficulty.

Related species