Silvertip Tetra care guide
Silvertip Tetra (Hasemania nana) — minimum tank 60 L, temperature 22-28 °C, pH 6-7.5.
Overview
The Silvertip Tetra (Hasemania nana) is a small characid from south-eastern Brazil, recognised by a warm copper to bronze body and prominent white tips on the dorsal, anal and caudal fin lobes. Males develop more intense colour and slightly elongated fins.
Taxonomy
- Family: Characidae
- Genus: Hasemania
- Scientific name: Hasemania nana
Habitat
Native to small forest tributaries of the São Francisco basin in Minas Gerais, Brazil, where water is soft, slightly acidic and slow-moving with overhanging vegetation and leaf litter.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L (15.9 US gal)
- Adult size: 3-5 cm
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6-7.5
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- School size: ≥8 individuals
Diet
An omnivore that takes small invertebrates and plant fragments in the wild. In aquaria a varied diet of quality flakes, micro-pellets and small live or frozen foods (daphnia, brine shrimp) maintains colour intensity.
Compatibility
Active and mildly nippy if kept in groups smaller than eight. Maintain a shoal of at least eight to disperse intra-group aggression. Best housed with similarly active companions and avoided with long-finned slow species.
Breeding
An egg-scatterer. Spawning over fine-leaved plants in soft, acidic water; eggs are non-adhesive and parents should be removed promptly. Fry hatch in about 24 hours.