Green fire tetra

Aphyocharax rathbuni

Also known as Redflank bloodfin

FreshwaterFish

Green fire tetra (Aphyocharax rathbuni) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–79°F; 22–26°C
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 2 in; 5 cm
Minimum tank: 20 gal; 75 L

Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity: Common
Family: Characidae
Origin: Paraguay, Paraná and Uruguay river basins, South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay)

Overview

The green fire tetra is an active, hardy schooling fish for the middle of the tank, and it is easy to keep.

Did you know

Green fire tetras handle cooler water better than most tetras. Their Argentine and Uruguayan populations live through seasonal temperature drops down to around 20°C.

Caring for the green fire tetra

Keep green fire tetras in a group of at least six to eight, in a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L). Use a sandy substrate, dense planting around the edges and open space in the middle for swimming. Add some moderate flow to suit the moving water they are used to.

In many climates an unheated, room-temperature tank suits them if it stays at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C). Aim for a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and soft to moderately hard water. Feed small flakes, micro pellets and frozen foods such as daphnia or brine shrimp.

Green fire tetras are mostly peaceful, but they have a real fin-nipping streak. A bigger school cuts down on nipping and brings out better color. Skip slow or long-finned tank mates such as bettas, gouramis, angelfish and fancy guppies. Pair them instead with robust, fast-moving species.

They scatter their eggs and give no parental care. Breeding them is neither easy nor hard.

Good to know

The green fire tetra, Aphyocharax rathbuni, is a characin in the family Characidae. FishBase lists a rare maximum near 7 cm, larger than most aquarium adults reach. A healthy fish lives several years, and most stock in the trade is commercially bred.

In the wild

Green fire tetras come from the Paraguay, Parana and Uruguay river basins across southern South America, in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. These are clear, flowing waters that cool off through the seasons.

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Tank mates

The green fire 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator