Buenos Aires Tetra
Hyphessobrycon anisitsi
Characidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The Buenos Aires tetra is a large, solidly built characin from the Parana and Uruguay river basins, where winter water drops to around 16 °C. It reaches roughly 7.5 cm and is genuinely one of the hardiest tropical fish in the hobby, which is exactly why it ends up in the wrong tanks. This is not the placid community tetra shops imply: it is fast, pushy, forms loose hierarchies, and it eats plants. Soft-leaved species such as Vallisneria, Cabomba and Hygrophila are stripped, and slow long-finned tankmates lose fin edges.
Care
Keep 10-12 in 110 L or more with a 90 cm base. Plant only with tough species such as Anubias and Java fern, or go plantless - soft leaves will be eaten. Not compatible with bettas, angelfish, fancy guppies or small tetras; pair it with barbs, danios, rainbowfish and Corydoras.
Diet
Omnivore that genuinely needs vegetable matter; a spirulina-based staple plus frozen meaty foods keeps it off the planting.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (230)
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Avoid (41)
Adonis PlecoBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishClown LoachComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoDemon EartheaterEndlicheri BichirFantail GoldfishFrontosaGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorIridescent SharkJaguar CichlidKoiLivingstoniMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidRanchu GoldfishRed DevilRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRosy Red MinnowRoyal PlecoRyukin GoldfishSailfin PlecoShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonyStriped Raphael CatfishTelescope GoldfishTexas CichlidVenustus (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 Buenos Aires Tetra need?
- A Buenos Aires Tetra needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 90 cm (35.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Buenos Aires Tetra need?
- Buenos Aires Tetra does best at 16–28 °C (60.8–82.4 °F), pH 5.5–8.5 and a general hardness of 1–20 °dGH.
- What group size does a Buenos Aires Tetra need?
- Buenos Aires Tetra is a social species — keep a group of at least 10 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Buenos Aires Tetra suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Buenos Aires 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
Temperature16–28°C
Optimal temp.20–26°C
pH5.5–8.5
Hardness (GH)1–20°d
Carbonate (KH)1–15°d
Adult size7.5 cm
Min. volume≥ 110 L
Min. tank length≥ 90 cm
Group size≥ 10
Swimming zoneMid
TemperamentSemi-aggressive
Water typeFreshwater
FlowModerate
Lifespan~6 yrs
Try in the calculator