Silver Tip Tetra
Hasemania nana
Characidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The silver tip tetra is a 5 cm characin from the Rio Sao Francisco basin in Minas Gerais, Brazil, unusual among tetras in having no adipose fin. Mature males deepen to a warm copper-orange while females and juveniles stay translucent lemon-yellow, and every fin carries the white tip that gives the fish its name. It is one of the most restlessly active tetras in the hobby: a tight shoal that piles against the front glass and follows a finger from side to side.
Care
Keep at least 8, ideally 10 or more, in 75 L with a 60 cm base. In-shoal bickering is normal and harmless, but it nips slow long-finned tankmates, so bettas and veil gouramis are out. It will also eat dwarf shrimplets and fry.
Diet
Quick, competitive omnivore; a varied dry staple plus frozen Daphnia and cyclops keeps males in full copper colour.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (72)
African Butterfly CichlidAgassiz's CoryAssassin SnailBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlackline RasboraBladder SnailBleeding Heart TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBloodfin TetraBlue Velvet ShrimpBoesemani RainbowfishBolivian RamBristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasCherry BarbCherry ShrimpChinese Algae EaterClown PlecoCockatoo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraDiamond TetraDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Pea PufferEmerald CoryEmperor TetraForktail RainbowfishGhost ShrimpGlowlight TetraGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGolden Wonder KillifishHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiKeyhole CichlidKribensisLemon TetraLittle CorydorasMalaysian Trumpet SnailOtocinclusPeaceful BettaPenguin TetraPurple Emperor TetraPygmy CorydorasRainbow SharkRed Whiptail CatfishRed-Tail SharkRosy TetraScissortail RasboraSerpae TetraSiamese Algae EaterSkunk CorySparkling GouramiSterbai CorydorasStriped KribensisT-Bar CichlidThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiTiger BarbUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryWrestling HalfbeakX-ray Tetra
Possible with care (146)
Acei CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAltum AngelfishAmano ShrimpAuratus CichlidBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Skirt TetraBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBlue Tiger ShrimpBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo SuckerBrevis Shell DwellerBrichard's TeleogrammaBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Buenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyButterfly Hillstream LoachCalvus CichlidCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCelestial Pearl DanioCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbChili RasboraChocolate CichlidChocolate GouramiClown KillifishCobalt Blue ZebraCochu's Blue TetraColombian Ramshorn SnailCongo Dwarf CichlidConvict CichlidCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDenison BarbDiscusDoctor FishDogtooth CichlidDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Orange CrayfishDwarf Petricola CatfishDwarf RasboraElectric Yellow LabElephantnose FishEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEmber TetraEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidFlame TetraFreshwater ClamGerman Blue RamGlass CatfishGlowlight DanioGold BarbGolden JulieGreen DiscusGreen Neon TetraGuppyHongi CichlidJapanese Trapdoor SnailJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidJulii CoryKenyi CichlidKissing GouramiKuhli LoachLambchop RasboraLeast KillifishLemon CichlidLeopard DanioMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMaingano CichlidMarble HatchetfishMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMedaka RicefishMollyMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerMystery SnailNeon TetraNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOdessa BarbPanda CorydorasParadise FishParaguay EartheaterPeacock CichlidPearl DanioPearl GouramiPeppered CorydorasPictus CatfishPlatyPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRamshorn SnailRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Zebra CichlidRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieReticulated Hillstream LoachRosy BarbRubber Lip PlecoRummynose TetraRusty CichlidSailfin MollySalt and Pepper CorySand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidScarlet BadisSeverumSimilis Shell DwellerSpotted HoploStar SapphireStrawberry RasboraSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterSwordtailTaiwan Reef CichlidThreadfin AcaraThreadfin PetrochromisThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiTurquoise RainbowfishUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Umbrella Dwarf CichlidWhite Cloud Mountain MinnowYoyo LoachZebra DanioZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Avoid (53)
Adonis PlecoAngelfishBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishClown LoachComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoCompressiceps CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCuckoo CatfishDemon EartheaterDuboisi TropheusElectric Blue AhliEndlicheri BichirFantail GoldfishFeatherfin SqueakerFrontosaGoby CichlidGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorHeckel DiscusIridescent 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 Silver Tip Tetra need?
- A Silver Tip 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 Silver Tip Tetra need?
- Silver Tip Tetra does best at 23–28 °C (73.4–82.4 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 5–20 °dGH.
- What group size does a Silver Tip Tetra need?
- Silver Tip Tetra is a social species — keep a group of at least 8 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Silver Tip Tetra suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Silver Tip 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
Temperature23–28°C
Optimal temp.24–27°C
pH6–8
Hardness (GH)5–20°d
Carbonate (KH)2–14°d
Adult size5 cm
Min. volume≥ 75 L
Min. tank length≥ 60 cm
Group size≥ 8
Swimming zoneMid
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowModerate
Lifespan~5 yrs
Try in the calculator