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Bloodfin TetraBloodfin TetraFamily: Characidae Aphyocharax anisitsiPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David BroughLatest Reader Comment - See More I have the blood fin tetras in my aquarium ten gallon capacity the most I have ever had together is six. They are very ... (more) james g. adelhoch The Bloodfin Tetra is one of the time tested favorites in the aquarium hobby. A school of these attractive fishes is a pretty sight!Bloodfin Tetra Contents The Bloodfin Tetra is a good schooling fish and likes to be active. These fish appreciate plants like valisneria and sagittaria to be planted around the inside perimeter of the aquarium leaving lots of open room to swim. The Bloodfin Tetra makes a great addition to a community aquarium as it is peaceful with its tankmates. It is also very hardy and easy to breed. Because the Bloodfin Tetras are very active fish, they need lots of food. A rule of thumb here is to feed them 3 or 4 times a day as much as they will eat in about 3 minutes. When well tended, they have been known to live for 10 years or more. This hardy fish can even be kept in an unheated aquarium, though its' coloring will fade under these conditions. For more Information on keeping this fish see: |
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Habitat: Distribution / Background
The Bloodfin Tetra was described by Eigenmann and Kennedy in 1903. They are found in South America in Argentina, Rio Parana where they inhabit the upper and middle layers of the water feeding on worms, small insects, and crustaceans.
- Scientific Name: Aphyocharax anisitsi
- Social Grouping: Groups
- IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed
The Bloodfin Tetra is a more slim-bodied species of tetra. It has body colors ranging from a beige-orange to a silver, picking up some flashy neon highlights. Their most distinguishing characteristic and their namesake is derived from the bright red color at the base of its anal fin and on the lower half of the tail fin.
- Maximum Size: 2.0 inches (5.08 cm)
- Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy
- Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner
Since they are omnivorous the Bloodfin 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. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat.
- Diet Type: Omnivore
- 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
- Water Changes: Bi-weekly
- Minimum Tank Size: 15 gal (57 L)
- Substrate Type: Any
- Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
- Temperature: 64.0 - 82.0° F (17.8 - 27.8° C)
- Range ph: 6.0-8.0
- Hardness Range: 2 - 30 dGH
- Brackish: No
- Water Movement: Moderate
- Water Region: All
The Bloodfin Tetra are an excellent community fish and they will school.
- Venomous: No
- Temperament: Peaceful - This is a schooling fish.
- Compatible with:
- Same species - conspecifics: Yes
- Peaceful fish (): Safe
- Semi-Aggressive: (): Threat
- Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive
The male is slightly more colorful than the female, has a small hook on the anal fin, and a more slender body. The female is more plump.
The Bloodfin Tetras are egg layers. A quite interesting behavior of this fish is that at the moment of spawning, the fish will leap out of the tank and the eggs will fall back into the water. The eggs are not sticky so will fall to the bottom. The female will deposit 300-500 eggs in all. See the description of how to breed egg layers in Breeding Freshwater Fish.
- Ease of Propagation: Easy
The Bloodfin Tetra is readily available.
Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants
Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants
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