Buenos Aires Tetra

Family: CharacidaeHyphessobrycon anisitsiPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

One of the most easily kept fish, the Buenos Aires Tetra is great for the beginning aquarist!

The Buenos Aires Tetras Hyphessobrycon anisitsi are very hardy, long lived, and prolific breeders. They are handsome full-bodied fish that can reach up to about 2 3/4 inches (7 cm) in length with a life span of about 5 - 6 years.

They have a pretty silvery color overall, picking up flashy neon highlights. But they are immediately distinguished by the bold black 'cross' shaped pattern at the base of the tail fin accented with red above and below.

These fish are great for beginners. They can adapt to most water conditions within reason and have no special requirements or considerations. Being fairly peaceful fish they will do very well in a community tank, but they do have a big appetite. They must be kept well fed because if they get hungry they will nip the fins on any of their long-finned tankmates!  They are best if kept in large groups of five or more individuals. Being kept in a good sized school will also cut down on their desire to nip at the other fish.

For many years they were one of the most popular fish in the aquarium hobby. The Buenos Aires Tetra however, will eat live plants. With so many people today growing plants in their aquariums, they have fallen a bit out of favor. If you are keeping an aquarium with artificial plants they make a wonderful addition to a community tank.

For Information on keeping freshwater fish, see:
Freshwater Aquarium Guide: Aquarium Setup and Care

Geographic Distribution Hyphessobrycon anisitsi Data provided by FishBase.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Characiformes Family: Characidae Genus: Hyphessobrycon Species: anisitsi

Habitat: Distribution / Background

The Buenos Aires Tetra Hyphessobrycon anisitsi (previously Hemigrammus caudovittatus and Hemigrammus anisitsi) was described by Eigenmann in 1907. The species is not listed on the IUCN Red List. They are found in South America in the La Plata region, Argentina, Paraguay and southeastern Brazil.

They are a schooling fish that inhabits a range of biotypes which include streams, rivers, lakes and ponds.  In nature these tetras feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plants.

• Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon anisitsi
• Social Grouping: Groups - .
• IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed

Description

The Buenos Aires Tetra is a full-bodied large tetra species that can reach up to 2.75 inches (7 cm) with a lifespan of 5 - 6 years. It has a silvery color that picks up flashy neon highlights. The top and bottom of the tail fin is generally red, as are the pelvic and anal fins. The dorsal fin also has a hint of red. Their most distinguishing characteristic is the caudal peduncle which has a bold black 'cross' shape.

• Size of fish - inches: 2.8 inches (6.99 cm)
• Lifespan: 6 years - They have a lifespan of about 5 - 6 years.

Fish Keeping Difficulty

The Buenos Aires Tetra is a hardy fish that is good for the beginner fish keeper.  They do not have any special needs or requirements that have to be met for them to thrive.

• Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy
• Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner

Foods and Feeding

Since they are omnivorous the Buenos Aires Tetra will generally eat all kinds of live. fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food everyday. To keep these tetras at their best and most colorful, offer regular meals of live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp.  Vegetables should also be added to their diet.  Blanched spinach is a great choice.  Feed these tetras several times a day and only what they can consume in 3 minutes or less at each feeding.

• Diet Type: Omnivore - This fish loves to eat aquarium plants.
• Flake Food: Yes
• Tablet Pellet: Yes
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
• Meaty Food: Some of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day

Aquarium Care

Buenos Aires Tetras are not exceptionally difficult to care for provided their water is kept clean. Aquariums are closed systems and regardless on size all need some maintenance. With home aquariums the nitrate and phosphates build up over time and the water hardness increases due to evaporation. To combat these ever changing conditions water should be replaced on a regular basis. At least 25 - 50% of the tank water should be replaced every other week, especially if the tank is densely stocked.

• Water Changes: Bi-weekly

Aquarium Setup

This fish is a very active swimmer so needs plenty of open space. It also likes to be kept with companions of its own kind in a group of 5 or more so it can school. Keep Buenos Aires Tetras in a tank at least 20 inches long and ideally 25 or more gallons to provide them with plenty of space for swimming and shoaling. They are happy with any type of substrate and do fine with normal aquarium lighting. However, the tank should be securely covered as these fish are skilled jumpers and will probably do so if given the opportunity.

This is a very undemanding species, as can be seen by the wide range of acceptable conditions. However they will eat most plants with the possible exception of Java Fern. So the tank should mostly be decorated with driftwood, rocks, and plastic plants.

• Minimum Tank Size: 25 gal (95 L) - This fish is very active and requires space and companions of its own kind so it can school.
• Suitable for Nano Tank: Yes
• Substrate Type: Any
• Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
• Temperature: 64.0 to 82.0° F (17.8 to 27.8° C)
• Breeding Temperature: 75.0° F
• Range ph: 6.0-8.0
• Hardness Range: 2 - 30 dGH
• Brackish: No
• Water Movement: Strong
• Water Region: All - These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Social Behaviors

The Buenos Aires Tetra are generally a good community fish. They are quite active and when provided with plenty of space, they will school. These tetras are best kept with their own kind in a school of 5 or more, or other fish that can tolerate their boisterous behavior. Just remember to keep them well fed so they don't snack on the fins of their tankmates!

Good tankmates are similiar sized tetras, rainbowfish, larger rasboras, barbs and danionins.  Non-aggressive cichlids also do well with these tetras.  Slow moving long finned fish like gouramis, anabantoids and dwarf cichlids do not do well with these tetras and will nip and harrass this tetra.  To avoid fin nipping, keep this fish in schools of 5 or more and most of the aggression will be kept within the school.

• Venomous: No
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive - Although not usually aggressive, this fish is very active and will irritate more temperate fish. It is also a notorious fin nipper so select tankmates carefully.
• Compatible with:
  • Same species - conspecifics: Yes - Best kept in a school of 5 or more.
  • Peaceful fish (): Monitor - Watch for fin nipping induced stress in other fish. Sometimes they can be outright aggressive so monitor them in community tanks.
  • Semi-Aggressive (): Threat
  • Aggressive (): Threat
  • Large Semi-Aggressive (): Threat
  • Large Aggressive, Predatory (): Threat
  • Slow Swimmers & Eaters (): Monitor
  • Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive
  • Plants: Threat - One of the only drawbacks to this fish is that it will eat plants.

Sex: Sexual differences

The male will have brighter red fins, sometimes tending towards yellow. The female is fuller bodied and has a more rounded stomach.

Breeding / Reproduction

The Buenos Aires Tetra are egglayers. The female will lay eggs on plants or green floss. This tetra is fairly easy to breed. To get the best mortality rate for your fry, it is recommended to set up a second tank. An air powered sponge filter will work best. Fine leaved plants and spawning mops should be used to give the fish a place to deposit their eggs. A mesh can also be used as long as the holes are large enough for the eggs to pass through and able to keep the parents put. Tank should be kept at 75 degrees and water should be slightly soft and acidic.

These tetras should be kept in groups of 6 males and 6 females for best results. Feed these tetras a good supply of small live food and they will normally start to spawn. Eggs will begin to hatch in 24-36 hours and the fry able to free swim with in 4 days. For a description of breeding characin fish, see Breeding Freshwater Fish: Characins.

• Ease of Breeding: Easy

Fish Diseases

As with most fish the Buenos Aires Tetra are prone to skin flukes, parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.), ichthyobodo infection, parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.), bacterial infections (general), and bacterial disease. Buenos Aires Tetra are extremely hardy and disease is not usually a problem in a well maintained aquarium. That being said there is no guarantee that you won't have to deal with health problems or disease. Remember anything you add to your tank can bring disease to your tank. Not only other fish but plants, substrate, and decorations can harbor bacteria. Take great care and make sure to properly clean or quarantine anything that you add to an established tank so not to upset the balance.

A good thing about Buenos Aires Tetra is that due to their resilience, an outbreak of disease can often be limited to just one or a few fishes if you deal with it at an early stage. When keeping more sensitive types of fish, it is common for all fishes to be infected even before the first warning signs can be noticed. The best way to proactively prevent disease is to give your Buenos Aires Tetra the proper environment and give them a well balanced diet. The closer to their natural habitat the less stress the fish will have, making them healthier and happy. Stressed fish are more likely to acquire disease.

For information about freshwater fish diseases and illnesses, see Aquarium Fish Diseases and Treatments. This is a great source for information on disease and treatments. It is recommended to read up on the common tank diseases. Knowing the signs and catching and treating them early makes a huge difference. Buenos Aires Tetra are very resilient

Availability

The Buenos Aires Tetra is readily available, both in fish stores and on line, and is reasonably priced.

References

• Animal-World References: Freshwater Fish and Plants
• Dr. Rüdiger Riehl and Hans A. Baensch, Aquarium Atlas Vol. 1, Publisher Hans A. Baensch, 1991
• Joseph S. Nelson, Fishes of the World, Wiley, 2006.
• Greg Jennings (Editor), 500 Freshwater Aquarium Fish, Firefly Books Ltd, 2006.
• David Goodwin, The Practical Aquarium Fish Handbook , Sterling Publishing Company, 2003
• Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod, Aquarium Fishes of the World, TFH Publications, 1998
• Hyphessobrycon anisitsi (Eigenmann, 1907) Buenos Aires tetra, Fishbase.org

Available From These Merchants

• Hyphessobrycon anisitsi : $1.79

Buenos Aires Tetra Hyphessobrycon Anisitsi Offered By: That Pet Place Price: $1.79

Lastest Animal Stories on Buenos Aires Tetra View all 16 Animal Stories on Buenos Aires Tetra Add Your Animal Story

T - 2012-10-06 These fish definitely need regular water change. I recently lost 3 large females suddenly with no sign of disease. Thanks to your website, I will refresh their water every week. My original 6 have multiplied to 12. Hornworth is hardy enough to survive if you have a large amount. Amazon swords also. I am going to introduce some giant danios. That should provide some action. Reply

Tom Pietruszka - 2009-11-01 The Buenos Aires Tetras are great fish; they are excellent in my 300 gallon community aquarium, even leaving the tiny Glowlight tetras alone. Having more than 6 of them helps minimize any aggression toward other fish. A while back, I purchased a few more smaller Buenos Aires Tetras, and had them for a time in a 10 gallon quarantine tank. Very recently, I purchased a few more Glowlight tetras and Bloodfin tetras and put them in the quarantine tank that the Buenos Aires Tetras had been in. To my surprise, I noticed babies swimming around in the quarantine tank, so I removed the Glowlights and Bloodfins and placed them temporarily in a tank with some catfish. Apparently, the Buenos Aires Tetras that I had in quarantine had laid eggs! And our well water is fairly hard! These are really easy fish to breed apparently! Reply

crystal - 2004-08-23 My Bruno Aries Tetra has such a personality! He is ina community tank with black neons and neon tetras, and schools well with them, and not agressive towards them at all. When I come up to the tank, he always swims over to whatever side I am on as if to say hi. Reply

Deedee - 2005-03-03 Got 5 of these guys in a smallish tank just for them, with a mopane bog wood root with a huge java fern stuck to it with a couple other plants up and a sump down full of more plants. The tank has a MILWAUKEE SMS122 pH/CO2 Controller so plants are always lush and the cylinders last forever because of the controllers... but back to these lovely fish... I looked in the tank one day last week and there, sitting pretty as can be is a 6th! A new baby the size of a small neon! I had no idea it had even been there obviously the dense java fern servered it well. Baby and 5 parents all doing great together. Reply

Tay P. - 2010-07-11 I had just bought four Buenos Aires tetras and two of them are chasing the other two and my gouramis who were originally the leaders in my tank are scared of them but are'nt these fish community fish? \" Ron L \" - 2010-10-09 That's what they said these fish is a community fish when I bought 2 at petsmart. As soon as I brought them home put them in my 36 gallon tank. They started to terrorize my neon tetra, rummy nose, and bala shark. This fish is not community fish. I brought them back for a refund. tj black - 2011-01-25 Having same problem, took a piece of my biggest gouramis tail, I have smaller black strip neon and they don't bother them, they go for the big lid on the block, gouramis which once ruled the tank, now run scared. pleco - 2011-07-18 Keeping them as group (at least 6) really helps with the said agression. I keep ten with silver hatchets and cory cats and no issues as of yet. Don't think neons are something I would house them with, though, and guaramies would also be trouble simply because of the long pelvic "feelers". Definately boisterous for a tetra. steven vallee - 2012-01-01 Try putting some rainbow fish in, they are peaceful but tough. Quick swimmers, they take a licken, but keep on ticken. They will take the pressure off your gourami's. Alex Burleson - 2012-01-01 It is not uncommon to find fish which are listed as 'community fish' that become seemingly aggressive to tank mates. One method to combat this problem is to add a few more [3-5] Buenos Aires Tetras. Buenos Aires Tetras are a schooling fish, which means they need to be kept in schools of 5+. Often, when the school is not large enough a few in the school, (or the entire school) will behave in an aggressive manner. However, in the majority of incidents, it is only because they feel threatened. Given you have correct aquarium parameters, and space requirements, I would add 3-5 more Buenos Aires Tetras. If this does not combat the problem, try seeking an alternative solution such as returning all of the Buenos Aires Tetras to your place of purchase, and opt for a different fish. Best wishes! Manny Fresh - 2012-09-07 I have had 4 Buenos Aires in a 110 gal community tank with about 6 Gouramis, 10 Barbs, 4 Red Eye Tetras, Red tail shark, 2 SAE's, and a few others maybe a total community of about ~40-50 other fish and they are great, they do eat a LOT, so to keep them happy they should be fed more than the others. Also I have them in a planted aquarium, but plant selection is trial and error because they will eat ALL of your plants especially the ones with leaves like the consistency of lettuce. They are super aggressive feeders, so make sure you have a larger tank if you intend on keeping them, and these guys will live for a LONG time so be prepared. Avoid smaller fish unless they have a place to hide, becuase these guys can be cannabilistic if they arent fed a varied diet. High quality algea wafers is a must, and they can get quite large. Reply

Cesar Wilkins - 2012-01-04 We have them here in Panama too, yes they are too agressive, even cannibal, we use them here as bait. Get at leas 100 of them for a few hours of good bass fishing. I used to keep some for Aquarium, they are inmortal thoug lol!!! Reply

Tell your story!

View all 16 Animal Stories on Buenos Aires Tetra