All fish / Characidae

Silvertip tetra

Hasemania nana

Also known as silver tip tetra, silvertip tetra, copper tetra, silver-tipped tetra, hasemania marginata, シルバーチップ・テトラ, 银尖灯, 铜灯鱼

A small, lively tetra with a coppery orange body, especially in males, and bright white or silver tips on the dorsal, anal and tail fins. Unlike most tetras it has no adipose fin. It is hardy, captive bred, and adds active colour to a planted community tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 8

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small flake and granules, plus frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Brazil: Rio São Francisco basin

Breeding

An egg scatterer that lays adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, with no parental care. It breeds fairly readily in a dim, separate tank if well-conditioned adults are used and the eggs are protected from the parents.

Good to know

It can be a little nippy in small groups, so keep a proper shoal and avoid long-finned tankmates. Larger fish such as angelfish may eat it.