The bloodfin tetra (''Aphyocharax anisitsi'') is a species of
characin
Characiformes is an order of ray-finned fish, comprising the characins and their allies. Grouped in 18 recognized families, more than 2000 different species are described, including the well-known piranha and tetras.; Buckup P.A.: "Relationshi ...
from the
Paraná River
The Paraná River ( es, Río Paraná, links=no , pt, Rio Paraná, gn, Ysyry Parana) is a river in south-central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina for some ."Parana River". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Br ...
basin in South America. The bloodfin is a relatively large tetra, growing to 5.5 cm.
[Nico, L., 2022, ]
Aphyocharax anisitsi
' Eigenmann and Kennedy, 1903: U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, Revision Date: 6/22/2012, Peer Review Date: 6/22/2012, Access Date: 9/4/2022 Its notable feature (as the name suggest) is the blood-red colouration of the tail, dorsal, anal and
adipose fin, while the body is silver in color.
Bloodfin tetras are extremely hardy, making them popular with novice
fish keepers.
Aquarium care
Bloodfin tetras are typically kept in schools of five or more. They swim mainly in the upper and middle water layers and are highly sociable fishes, mixing well with other types of
tetras and tropical fish in general, so are often kept (like many other tetras) in a
community tank. However, they will tend to nip at the fins of fish with long, wavy fins, such as
angelfish
Angelfish may refer to:
*Several groups of fish:
**Freshwater angelfish, tropical cichlids of the genus ''Pterophyllum''
**Marine angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae
**Atlantic pomfret (''Brama brama''), sold by fishmongers as "angelfish" in Sou ...
or
guppies. Bloodfin tetras have also been kept in cold-water tanks, provided the temperature does not drop below
room temperature
Colloquially, "room temperature" is a range of air temperatures that most people prefer for indoor settings. It feels comfortable to a person when they are wearing typical indoor clothing. Human comfort can extend beyond this range depending on ...
. They have been kept in temperatures ranging from 64–83 °F. Tetras are adapted to soft, slightly acidic water, and
soft water
Hard water is water that has high mineral content (in contrast with "soft water"). Hard water is formed when water percolates through deposits of limestone, chalk or gypsum, which are largely made up of calcium and magnesium carbonates, bicarbo ...
is essential for breeding. Bloodfin tetras can adapt to many water conditions in captivity, if the
tap water is dechlorinated.
Breeding
At the time of spawning the fish leaps above the water surface and leaves its
eggs in the water. The eggs, being heavy, fall to the floor of the tank or water body. The female deposits 300–500 eggs.
See also
*
List of freshwater aquarium fish species
A vast number of aquatic species have successfully adapted to live in the freshwater aquarium. This list gives some examples of the most common species found in home aquariums.
Catfish
Characins and other characiformes
...
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1505634
Tetras
Fish described in 1903