Bloodfin tetra
Aphyocharax anisitsi
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- 22–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–8.0
- Adult size
- 2.2 in
- 5.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina
Overview
Keep a group of six or more in a tank of about 75 liters; they swim in the middle and upper levels and are active, sometimes nippy when in too small a group. They're tough and adaptable, handling anything from the low to high 20s C and a wide pH range. Feed flake, micro pellets, and the occasional frozen brine shrimp or daphnia.
In the wild
Bloodfin tetras come from clear, shallow rivers and streams with some current across Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. The bottom is usually sand or mud with scattered rocks and leaf litter, and the water runs slightly acidic to neutral. A planted tank with a bit of flow and open swimming room suits them, and they tolerate cooler temperatures than most tetras.
Good to know
A member of the family Characidae, this tetra reaches about 5.5 cm, with a silver body and the red fins that give it its name. It's an egg scatterer with no parental care, and eggs typically hatch in roughly a day or two. The species is hardy and long-lived for a small tetra. Conservation status is Least Concern.
Did you know
Bloodfins are one of the few tetras that take cool, even unheated, room-temperature water in hand, which makes them a reasonable choice for a tank without a heater in a warm room. They're also strong jumpers, so keep the tank covered.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Bloodfin tetra is a mostly 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.
Bronze cory
Osteogaster aenea
Freshwater3 in (7.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Marble wood shrimp
Atya scabra
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Dwarf flag cichlid
Laetacara curviceps
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Dwarf botia
Ambastaia sidthimunki
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)
Rex halfbeak
Nomorhamphus rex
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Bloodfin tetra need?
A Bloodfin tetra needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Bloodfin tetra need?
A Bloodfin tetra is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–8.0.
How big does a Bloodfin tetra get?
An adult Bloodfin tetra reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).
Does a Bloodfin tetra need a group?
Yes. A Bloodfin tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
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