TankBud

Long-fin tetra

Brycinus longipinnis

Also known as Red Fin Alestes Tetra

FreshwaterFish

Long-fin tetra (Brycinus longipinnis)
Rufus46 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
4.9 in
12.5 cm
Minimum tank
50 gal
190 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer
Rarity
Rare
Family
Alestidae
Origin
West Africa

Overview

The long-fin tetra is an active, mostly peaceful schooling fish for a roomy community tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Male long-fin tetras use their flowing fins in display, flaring at rivals and showing off to females. The longest-finned males tend to be the dominant ones in a group.

Caring for the long-fin tetra

Keep long-fin tetras in a group of at least six. They are fast, restless swimmers that need a good amount of room. A tank of 50 gal (190 L) or larger fits them better than a small one. A planted tank with driftwood, open swimming lanes and a darker substrate suits them.

Keep the water soft, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed a mix of quality flake, small pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Long-fin tetras are mostly peaceful and cruise the middle and upper water. They mix well with other robust, similarly sized community fish. They may nip very slow or long-finned tank mates.

Mature males develop notably extended dorsal and anal fins, which is where the common name comes from. Long-fin tetras are egg scatterers with no parental care. The eggs hatch in roughly a day and a half to two days.

Good to know

Brycinus longipinnis is an African characin in the family Alestidae, also sold as the red fin Alestes tetra. It has a streamlined silver body, and mature fish carry a tall dorsal fin. The species is widespread and listed as Least Concern.

In the wild

Long-fin tetras come from Atlantic coastal river basins in West Africa, from Gambia to Gabon and into the DR Congo. They live in slow rivers, lakes and coastal streams with soft, slightly acidic to neutral water. These spots have dense plant growth, submerged roots and a sandy or fine gravel bottom.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The long-fin 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

Common questions

What size tank does a long-fin tetra need?

A long-fin tetra needs at least 50 gal (190 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a long-fin tetra need?

A long-fin tetra is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a long-fin tetra eat?

A long-fin tetra eats quality flake and small pellets, mixed with frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.

How big does a long-fin tetra get?

An adult long-fin tetra reaches about 4.9 in (12.5 cm).

Does a long-fin tetra need a group?

Yes. A long-fin tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How can you tell a male long-fin tetra from a female?

Mature males develop notably extended dorsal and anal fins.

How does a long-fin tetra breed?

Long-fin tetras scatter their eggs and give them no parental care. The eggs hatch in roughly a day and a half to two days.

Related species