Bloodfin Tetra

 Genus name: Aphyocharax Anisitsi

Distribution:  South America:  Rio Parana and Argentina

Length:  up to 2.2" (5.5cm)

Water Temperature: 72-83F (22-28C)

Diet: Worms, small crustaceans, plant matter, dried food

Water: soft to medium-hard water preferred

Lives: In the upper and middle areas of the aquarium

Community Tank

Bloodfins are shoaling fish which swim mainly in the upper and middle layers of the aquarium, ideally there should be at least 6 together at any time.

The elongated body of the Bloodfin is yellow to greyish-green, whilst the tail, dorsal, anal and adipose fin are blood-red in colour, hence the name Bloodfin.

This attractive fish is very hardy, thus suitable for beginners, and is relatively easy to breed in aquariums.  Like many other tetras, Bloodfins have been known to nip at long-finned fish like Guppies and Angelfish, so care should be taken if they are in the same aquarium.

The male Bloodfin has tiny hooklets on the anal fin, and these often become entangled with the mesh of the net when the fish is being caught.  If this happens, the Bloodfin should not be pulled away from the net, because this can tear off the hooklets.  Although this is not life threatening, the Bloodfin will not be able to breed as it uses these hooklets during mating.

Bloodfins will generally mate in the early morning, and the female lays large numbers of glass-clear eggs, sometimes 700 to 800, which sink to the bottom of the aquarium.  The eggs will hatch after 20 to 25 hours, but as with many fish, Bloodfins will eat their own eggs or young, so it may be advisable to remove them.

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