Silvertip Tetra

Looks how to spot one

Small scaled characin (tetra) without an adipose fin

A compact little tetra with a warm coppery-gold body and a dark line running along the rear half of the flank. The tips of the fins are marked with bright silvery-white, which gives the fish its name. Males show richer colour and are slimmer than females.23

Personality what they are like

A bright, busy and peaceful tetra that fits in well with most small community fish. In a proper group its playful energy is spread among its own kind.21

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Very lively; it spends the day darting around the middle of the tank with its shoal and enjoys room to swim.2

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Easy to look after: clean, stable water with routine partial water changes. Captive-bred stock copes with a broad range of water chemistry.21

Home where they are happiest

Tank of at least 60 x 38 x 30 cm (about 68 litres) for a small shoal. Water 22-28 °C, pH 6.0-8.0, hardness 5-20 °H. A planted tank with open swimming space suits it.21

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Takes most foods readily. Feed small dried flakes and granules together with regular small live or frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp for best colour.21

Company who they like around

Keep at least 6, ideally 10 or more. Good companions are livebearers, danios, rasboras, other small tetras, Corydoras, gouramis and dwarf cichlids; avoid large predatory fish.21

The story where it all began

Lütken described this fish in 1875 as Tetragonopterus nanus. It was later placed in the genus Hasemania, and a 1938 description by Meinken as Hasemania marginata turned out to be the same species. Today the fish sold in shops are captive-bred.31

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Least Concern (assessed 7 November 2018)1

FishBase

Used commercially in the aquarium trade1