Paraguay glass tetra

Prionobrama paraguayensis

Also known as Glass bloodfin (paraguayensis), Paraguayan glass tetra

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 68–81°F (20–27°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 2.4 in (6 cm)
Minimum tank: 20 gal (75 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Paraguay basin, South America
Family: Characidae

Overview

The Paraguay glass tetra is a transparent, active shoaling fish that should be kept in a group of at least eight to ten in a tank with open swimming space and gentle current. It swims in the middle and upper water and is peaceful, mixing well with other calm, similar-sized community fish such as tetras, rasboras, and corydoras. Like its relatives it is a keen jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is important. Feed small foods: fine flake, micro pellets, and frozen or live daphnia, cyclops, and brine shrimp. A group is comfortable in around 75 liters or more, and being subtropical it tolerates cooler room temperatures.

In the wild

Prionobrama paraguayensis lives in open, flowing stretches of streams in the Paraguay River basin of subtropical South America. It likes swimming room and gentle current, and being subtropical it accepts a wide temperature span, from 20 to 27 degrees Celsius, at pH 6.0 to 7.5 with soft to moderate hardness. A darker background makes its clear body easier to see; add some planting at the sides and keep the water clean and well oxygenated.

Good to know

Prionobrama paraguayensis is a transparent characin of the family Characidae reaching about 6 centimeters, and one of just two species in its genus. It is the close relative of the familiar glass bloodfin, Prionobrama filigera, but differs in lacking the red pigment in the tail that gives the bloodfin its name. Rarely imported on purpose, it can be spawned as an egg scatterer with moderate effort.

Did you know

Unlike its cousin the glass bloodfin, this species has no red in its tail; it is the plainer, all but colorless member of the pair, transparent enough to see the backbone through its side.

Tank mates

Paraguay glass tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.