The bloodfin tetra is a popular aquarium fish. Like all pets, it needs specific care to stay healthy and happy.
What Is a Bloodfin Tetra?
A bloodfin tetra is a type of freshwater fish belonging to the Characiforme family. Its species name is Aphyocharax anisitsi, and it has a silver body with a greenish tone. The term bloodfin comes from the red markings on its fins and tail.
Natural habitat. The Aphyocharax species is native to the river basins of the Orinoco, Amazon, and La Plata systems, which includes the Paranȧ and Uruguay rivers. They’re also found in the river systems that drain the Guiana Shield.
Today, you’ll find them in home aquariums as part of large fish communities. They’re colorful, striking fish and fun to watch.
Bloodfin tetra size. Adult male bloodfins are slightly smaller and lighter than females. However, bloodfin tetras are small and only reach about 2 inches in length. Females and males look alike, except that males have gill glands and a hook in the anal fin.
Bloodfin tetra lifespan. Tetras have a short life cycle in the wild but can live as long as 10 years in captivity with good care.
Bloodfin Tetra Diet
Like all pets, your tetras need healthy amounts of good-quality food that suits their biology. Bloodfin tetras are surface feeders and omnivores. In the wild, river bloodfins eat mostly insect larvae and zooplankton, but they’ll also eat some plants in a lagoon setting.
Dried flakes are a good option for these fish as they float on the surface where the fish eats, but pellets also work. If you buy bulk food, only buy enough for 2 months at a time. That way, the food stays fresh. You can also supplement with natural foods, like pieces of shrimp and vegetables, for extra vitamins.
As a general rule, feed your tetra a maintenance diet of 1% to 2% of their weight per day. A growth diet will be higher at 3% to 5% of body weight, but avoid overfeeding, which can cause health problems.
Bloodfin Tetra Tank Care
Since bloodfins are freshwater fish, you’ll need to place them in a freshwater aquarium. This means they can’t live with saltwater fish in the same tank. If you want a variety of fish, choose other types that do well in the same environments, including similar water temperature and pH.
It’s also best to enhance the tank landscape so that it’s similar to their natural habitat. Your fish will be healthier with the room and enrichment that supports their normal activities.
Size. Fish need a minimum of 1 gallon of water for every inch of their adult size. Based on these numbers, if a bloodfin tetra reaches 2 inches, you need a minimum of 2 gallons of water.
However, that’s just a starting point. Some experts suggest that an aquarium for small fish like tetras should be no less than 36 liters or 9.5 gallons. Plus, if you have a group of fish, you’ll need a bigger tank to give them enough room.
Vegetation. Wild bloodfins hide in seaweed and plants to escape predators and will want to hide in the tank. Add live or fake plants to your tank or decorative items like large rocks and driftwood to support this habit.
The river waters are also normally cloudy. While you want to keep your tank water clean, you can add sand and gravel to the bottom of your tank to mimic a riverbed. If you add gravel to your tank, rinse it first to avoid dust build-up in your filters and water.
pH. The pH scale measures the potential of hydrogen ion activity in a substance from 0 to 14. A substance with a low pH is acidic or basic, while high pH is alkaline. Neutral or balanced water is 7.0.
A change from one measure to the next is 10 times the concentration, meaning the water that changes from 7.0 to 6.0 is 10 times more acidic. Fish are sensitive to the pH level, and sudden, drastic changes can make them very sick.
Aim to keep your tank pH between 6.5 and 8.0. Small changes that move a decimal or two aren’t likely to cause too much harm but can stress your fish over time. Test your tank once a week with pH test strips to keep track.
Temperature. Bloodfin tetras are tropical fish, so they need warm water to survive. The correct bloodfin tetra temperature is near 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on where you live, this might be above room temperature, so you’ll need a water heater to keep your fish warm.
Filtration. Tap water is the simplest way to fill your tank, but you’ll need to filter the water. Most tap water has chlorine and chloramine that can lower the immune system and make the fish sick. Add a dechlorinator or conditioner to the tank to remove these chemicals.
Fish also pass ammonia-rich waste, which builds up and quickly makes them sick. Beneficial bacteria will naturally grow in the tank and help remove the ammonia by converting it to nitrite and then the harmless nitrate. It takes a few weeks for these colonies to grow, so you can use quick start nitrifying bacteria to get a new tank ready.
Common Bloodfin Tetra Diseases
Poor water quality and an unhealthy tank are common causes of disease in fish. These conditions often cause bacterial infections, but you can avoid most problems with good care.
Mycobacteriosis. Tetras are prone to a chronic wasting condition called mycobacteriosis. It’s often caused by poor tank conditions and can be passed to humans. Signs of mycobacteriosis in your tetra include:
- Skin sores
- Loss of scale
- Breeding problems
Columnaris. Bloodfin tetras are also prone to another bacteria infection called columnaris, which causes skin sores and fin and gill breakdown. This condition is caused by a species called Flavobacterium columnare.
Talk to Your Vet
Just like for other pets, good bloodfin tetra care is essential to good health. If you have questions about how to care for your fish or about fish health, talk to your vet.
