Bloodfin Tetra
Aphyocharax anisitsi
Characidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The bloodfin tetra is a hardy, silver-bodied characin from the Paraná basin of South America, named for the bright blood-red fins that flare against its metallic flanks. Fast, active and endlessly social, it forms tight shoals in the upper water and tolerates cooler, subtropical temperatures that would stress most tropical tetras.
Care
Keep a lively shoal of six or more in a long, well-covered tank with open swimming space and some current. Undemanding on water chemistry and comfortable in cooler rooms, but a tight lid is essential as it jumps.
Diet
Opportunistic omnivore that grazes small invertebrates and drifting food at the surface; feed varied dry foods with regular frozen or live micro-foods.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (100)
African Butterfly CichlidAgassiz's CoryAmano ShrimpAssassin SnailBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBladder SnailBleeding Heart TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBlue Tiger ShrimpBlue Velvet ShrimpBolivian RamBorneo SuckerBristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasCelestial Pearl DanioCherry BarbCherry ShrimpChinese Algae EaterClown PlecoCochu's Blue TetraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraDenison BarbDiamond TetraDoctor FishDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Orange CrayfishDwarf Pea PufferElephantnose FishEmerald CoryEmperor TetraFlame TetraForktail RainbowfishFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGlowlight DanioGlowlight TetraGold BarbGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGolden Wonder KillifishHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiJapanese Trapdoor SnailJulii CoryKeyhole CichlidKribensisLeast KillifishLemon TetraLeopard DanioLittle CorydorasMalaysian Trumpet SnailMystery SnailOdessa BarbOtocinclusPanda CorydorasPeaceful BettaPearl DanioPenguin TetraPictus CatfishPlatyPurple Emperor TetraPygmy CorydorasRainbow SharkRamshorn SnailRed Whiptail CatfishRed-Tail SharkReticulated Hillstream LoachRosy TetraRubber Lip PlecoSalt and Pepper CoryScarlet BadisScissortail RasboraSerpae TetraSiamese Algae EaterSilver Tip TetraSkunk CorySparkling GouramiStriped KribensisThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiTiger BarbUmbrella Dwarf CichlidUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryWrestling HalfbeakX-ray TetraZebra Danio
Possible with care (123)
Acei CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAltum AngelfishAuratus CichlidBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Blue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBoesemani RainbowfishBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Brevis Shell DwellerBrichard's TeleogrammaBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Buenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyButterfly Hillstream LoachCalvus CichlidCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbChili RasboraChocolate CichlidChocolate GouramiClown KillifishCobalt Blue ZebraColombian Ramshorn SnailCompressiceps CichlidCongo Dwarf CichlidConvict CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDiscusDogtooth CichlidDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Petricola CatfishDwarf RasboraElectric Yellow LabEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEmber TetraEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFeatherfin SqueakerFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidGerman Blue RamGolden JulieGreen DiscusGreen Neon TetraGuppyHeckel DiscusHongi CichlidJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKissing GouramiKuhli LoachLambchop RasboraLemon CichlidMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMaingano CichlidMarble HatchetfishMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMedaka RicefishMollyMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerNeon TetraNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerParadise FishParaguay EartheaterPeacock CichlidPearl GouramiPeppered CorydorasPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Zebra CichlidRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieRosy BarbRummynose TetraRusty CichlidSailfin MollySand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidSeverumSimilis Shell DwellerSpotted HoploStar SapphireSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterSwordtailT-Bar CichlidTaiwan Reef CichlidThreadfin AcaraThreadfin PetrochromisThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiTurquoise RainbowfishUaru (Triangle Cichlid)White Cloud Mountain MinnowYoyo LoachZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Avoid (48)
Adonis PlecoAngelfishBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishClown LoachComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoDemon EartheaterDuboisi TropheusElectric Blue AhliEndlicheri BichirFantail GoldfishFrontosaGoby CichlidGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorIridescent SharkJack DempseyJaguar CichlidKoiLivingstoniMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidRanchu GoldfishRed DevilRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRosy Red MinnowRoyal PlecoRyukin GoldfishSailfin PlecoSalvini CichlidShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonyStriped Raphael CatfishTelescope GoldfishTexas CichlidTropheusVenustus (Giraffe Cichlid)Wolf Cichlid
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Belly depthA hint only · only on well-fed adults, and only as a comparison
For most tetras, barbs and rasboras this is all there is: a conditioned female is deeper through the belly than a male of the same length.
Also in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Bloodfin Tetra need?
- A Bloodfin Tetra needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Bloodfin Tetra need?
- Bloodfin Tetra does best at 18–28 °C (64.4–82.4 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 3–25 °dGH.
- What group size does a Bloodfin Tetra need?
- Bloodfin Tetra is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Bloodfin Tetra suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Bloodfin Tetra is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature18–28°C
Optimal temp.22–26°C
pH6–8
Hardness (GH)3–25°d
Carbonate (KH)1–15°d
Adult size5.5 cm
Min. volume≥ 75 L
Min. tank length≥ 60 cm
Group size≥ 6
Swimming zoneTop
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowModerate
Lifespan~8 yrs
Try in the calculator