Bloodfin Tetra

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 2.5"
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons   • Water Conditions: 70-82° F; pH 6.0-7.8; dH 3-30
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina   • Family: Aphyocharacinae
• Species: Tetras   • Aquarium Type: Community

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The Bloodfin Tetra (Aphyocharax anisitsi) is an excellent species for beginning aquarium hobbyists as they are a very adaptable and easy to care for species. Their native habitats stretch over a large portion of South America from Paraguay to Argentina, where they thrive in a variety of water ways including streams, rivers and small tributaries.

Their large native range means that they are accustomed to living in waters with a variety of pH, temperature and dH parameters. This makes the Bloodfin Tetra especially adaptable to the aquarium hobby, where the water conditions from one tank to another can vary greatly. Bloodfin Tetra do best when kept in groups of 6 or more individuals in aquariums with plenty of vegetation and root structures. They are a very peaceful species and will not bother other tank mates including long finned species or docile slow moving fish species.

In their natural habitat the Bloodfin Tetra often lives near the waters surface, where they use floating plants or overhanging vegetation form the river bank for cover. They are accustomed to leaping from the water to avoid predator attacks that occur from beneath them. For this reason it is important to provide a tightly covered aquarium, as they will often jump from the tank when startled.

Bloodfin Tetra do well in a variety of tropical freshwater aquarium setups; however, they prefer aquariums that are heavily planted. Their natural river habitat provides them with plenty of tree roots and floating plants in which to seek cover from larger predatory fish species. Ideally aquariums housing Bloodfin Tetra should also contain areas with tree root and dense vegetation, as this will give the fish a sense of security knowing that they have shelter to retreat to when necessary. Bloodfin Tetra can be housed with a variety of peaceful fish tank mates.

They will also do well with ornamental shrimp and other more delicate invertebrate species. Bloodfin Tetra are very tolerant of a variety of water conditions and do not have any species water requirements. Standard water flow and filtration systems like power filters, canister filters or wet/dry filtration will work well for this species. They should ideally be kept in groups or schools of 6 or more fish, and will also school with other similar Tetra species.

Bloodfin Tetra are very easy to feed as they will readily accept a variety of flake, crisp, freeze-dried, frozen or live foods. A typical tropical species staple flake will satisfy their complete nutritional needs; however, they can be offered bloodworms, brine or other similar foodstuffs to give them some variety in their diet.