Bleeding heart tetra

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep six or more in a tank of about 75 liters and they'll work the middle layers. They're peaceful and easygoing, good for a community of similarly sized calm fish. Aim for the low to mid 20s C and a pH from slightly acidic to neutral. They're not fussy eaters and take flake, pellets, and frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.

In the wild

Bleeding heart tetras come from the slow, shaded waters of the upper Amazon in Peru, where the substrate is leaf litter and debris and the water runs soft and acidic. The tree cover keeps things dim. A planted tank with some open mid-water space, soft light, and maybe a few leaves on the bottom matches what they're used to.

Good to know

A characin in the family Characidae, this is one of the larger small tetras at around 6 cm with a tall, full body. The common name comes from the single red spot sitting over the heart. Males grow longer, more pointed dorsal and anal fins. They are egg scatterers and conservation status is Least Concern.

Did you know

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

Related species

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  Lesser bleeding heart tetra

  Hyphessobrycon socolofi

  2.2 in (5.6 cm)24 gal (90 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Colombian Tetra

  Hyphessobrycon columbianus

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• 

  Lemon tetra

  Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

  2 in (5 cm)17 gal (65 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Mayan Tetra

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• 

  Ornate tetra

  Hyphessobrycon bentosi

  1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Serpae tetra

  Hyphessobrycon serpae

  1.8 in (4.5 cm)17 gal (65 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)