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
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Alestidae
Origin
West Africa

Overview

These are active, mostly peaceful schoolers that need a group of at least six and a good amount of swimming room, so around 190 liters fits them better than a small tank. They cruise the middle and upper water and are fast, restless swimmers. Feed a mix of quality flake, small pellets, and frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp. They mix well with other robust, similarly sized community fish but may nip very slow or long-finned tankmates.

In the wild

Long-fin tetras come from West Africa, living in Atlantic coastal river basins from Gambia to Gabon and into the DR Congo, 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. A planted tank with driftwood, open swimming lanes, and a darker substrate suits them. Keep the water soft, pH 6 to 7.5, and temps in the low to mid 20s C.

Good to know

Brycinus longipinnis is an African characin in the family Alestidae and grows to about 12.5 cm. It has a streamlined silver body with a tall dorsal fin in mature fish. It is an egg-scatterer with no parental care, and eggs hatch in roughly a day and a half to two days. The species is widespread and listed as Least Concern.

Did you know

Mature males develop notably extended dorsal and anal fins, which is where the common name comes from. They use those flowing fins in display, flaring at rivals and showing off to females, so the longest-finned males tend to be the dominant ones in a group.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

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.

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.

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