All fish / Characidae

Blood-red Tetra

Brittanichthys axelrodi

Also known as blood red tetra, axelrod's tetra, brittanichthys tetra, red brittanichthys, ブリタニクティス・アクセルロッディ

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A tiny, slender tetra from blackwater streams, with males turning a rich blood red and showing odd hooked rays on the lower tail lobe. It is kept by fans of nano blackwater and biotope tanks who want a rarely seen, brightly coloured shoaling fish.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

2.5 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

4.5 to 6.5

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 10 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, cyclops and artemia, plus fine flake and micro pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Rio Negro basin, Brazil

Breeding

An egg scatterer thought to use internal insemination, so females can lay fertilised eggs without a male present. It is rarely bred in captivity and needs very soft, acidic water and tiny live foods for the fry.

Good to know

Seldom imported and often sold mixed with other small red tetras, so check identification. Needs soft, acidic, clean water and very small, gentle tankmates.