Bloodfin Tetra (Aphyocharax anisitsi)
Bloodfin Tetras are friendly, active, hardy, and relatively peaceful fish, and will make a great addition to a community aquarium. It is one of the bigger tetra species. They may nip on longer, wavier finned species such as angelfish or guppies.
Bloodfin Tetras have become quite popular because of their beautiful, yet discreet, colouration.
They have silvery-blue bodies with a greenish tone, depending on the aquarium lighting, and they have blood-red colouration of the tail, dorsal, anal and adipose fin, which is where these fish get their name.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aphyocharax anisitsi |
| Other Names | True Bloodfin, Redfin Tetra |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Characiformes |
| Family | Characidae |
| Genus | Aphyocharax |
| Origins | South America |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 6+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 5-7 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.0 - 8.0 |
| GH | 5 - 10 |
| Temperature | |
| 64 - 82℉ 17.8 - 27.8℃ | |
Natural Habitat
Bloodfin Tetras come from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and the Parana river basin in South America. They inhabit freshwater streams and small river tributaries usually amongst minimal areas of thick aquatic vegetation and shaded by the tree canopies above.
Other Tetras of interest
What to feed the Bloodfin Tetra
Bloodfin Tetras are not picky eaters and will eat almost anything you choose to give them.
Dried food such as flakes or micro pellets and vegetables, should be used as the staple of their diet but occasionally treat them with live and frozen food such as bloodworm, mosquito larvae and brine shrimp; this will help maintain a healthy diet.
How to Sex the Bloodfin Tetra
It is relatively easy to determine a male Bloodfin Tetra from a female.
The males have a brighter and more dramatic colour as well as displaying a white edge on their pelvic and anal fins; also the males have a hook shape anal fin, whereas the females are more rounded and duller than the males.
How to Breed the Bloodfin Tetra
The Bloodfin Tetras are egg layers that prefer their privacy during reproduction.
A separate breeding tank will be required with dim lighting, lots of plants and your water should be slightly more acidic.
To encourage spawning and to improve their condition, you should feed them with high-quality food that is rich in nutrients.
The male will guide the female over the plants where she will scatter
300 to 500 clear eggs on broad-leaved plants which should hatch within 24 hours.
You will need to remove the parents after the female lays her eggs, or they will be consumed.