Bloodfin tetra
Aphyocharax anisitsi
easy careOverview
The bloodfin tetra (Aphyocharax anisitsi) is a hardy, silvery South American tetra with striking red fins that flash as it darts across the tank. Fast, active and long-lived, it is one of the easiest tetras for beginners and one of the more temperature-tolerant, handling cooler rooms that would stress delicate species. Kept in a decent group it is peaceful, lively and endlessly entertaining.
Tank & water
Bloodfins are active swimmers, so give a shoal at least 75 litres (20 gallons) with open swimming space. Key points:
- Temperature: comfortable across a wide 18–28 °C; a heater adds stability rather than being strictly essential.
- Water: undemanding at pH 6.0–8.0 and soft to moderately hard water.
- Filtration and flow: they enjoy some current — a filter that turns the water over well suits their active nature.
- A lid: bloodfins are strong jumpers, so always cover the tank.
Feeding
Bloodfin tetras are easygoing omnivores. A quality flake or micro-pellet forms the staple, supplemented with frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once or twice daily, only what they finish quickly. Their appetite is healthy, so watch for overfeeding and the water quality problems it causes.
Tankmates
Peaceful but energetic, bloodfins do best with similarly active, robust tankmates: zebra danios, black skirt tetras, cherry barbs, rasboras and peaceful bottom dwellers like bronze corydoras. Avoid slow, long-finned fish that may be nipped. A shoal of six or more keeps them settled — see best community fish for beginners.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Keeping too few, which encourages fin-nipping
- Pairing them with slow, fancy-finned fish
- A tank too small for their constant swimming
- Leaving the tank uncovered
Give bloodfins a long, cycled tank and a proper group and they reward you with years of energetic, colourful activity.
Bloodfin tetra — frequently asked questions
Are bloodfin tetras good for beginners?
Yes. Bloodfins are among the hardiest tetras, tolerating a wide temperature and pH range and even cooler rooms. As long as the tank is cycled and they are kept in a group with space to swim, they are very forgiving.
Why are my bloodfin tetras nipping fins?
Bloodfins are fast, energetic fish that can nip if kept in too small a group or with slow, long-finned tankmates. A shoal of six or more keeps their attention on each other, and avoiding fancy-finned fish like bettas prevents most trouble.
Do bloodfin tetras need a heater?
They tolerate cooler water than most tetras, down to about 18 °C, but a heater still gives stability. In an unheated room that swings in temperature, a small heater keeps them comfortable and healthy.
Found your model? Buy it at the right price.
UniverTrack tracks the real price of your aquarium gear across several retailers, spots fake discounts and warns you when it's genuinely the right moment to buy — with an AI assistant to guide you.