Silvertips Tetra

This is one of the best choices for the newcomer or beginning aquarist. Peaceful, very hardy, minimum tank size 40 litres, adult size: 5 cm.

Silvertip Tetra (Hasemania nana) are native to the Rio São Francisco basin in Brazil.  Also known as copper tetra. The distinctive copper colour of the silvertip tetra makes it particularly popular with aquarists, although it is only the males that have this colouring. The females are much paler and tend to be more yellowish-brown to silver.

Behaviour  They are a relatively peaceful shoaling fish, which is happiest in a shoal with other Silvertips. The fish are well-suited to community tanks although these should be sufficiently large as the males can become extremely territorial during the spawning season. If the aquarium is big enough, silvertip tetras can be kept with other species of fish. Catfish and small tetras that reside in the upper regions of the tank are particularly good choices. Silvertip tetras tend to prefer the middle region of the aquarium.

Tank Conditions It’s an active species, so a small shoal will need a tank of at least 70 litres in size.  They are adaptable and will do well in most types of setup, but is particularly well-suited to a heavily planted tank. Oddly enough, aquatic plants are not a feature of its natural environment. A biotope setup would be rather more simple, consisting of a sandy substrate, a few driftwood branches and twisted roots and a scattering of dried leaves over the tank base (oak and beech leaves are both aquarium-safe once thoroughly dried). They will show their best colours under slightly dimmed lighting.

Compatibility One of the best tetras for the ‘general’ community setup. It is lively, quite colourful and peaceful. It’s a good tankmate for most livebearers, danios, rasboras, other tetras and peaceful bottom dwellers such as Corydoras or smaller Loricariids. It can also be kept with the majority of commonly available gouramis and dwarf cichlids. Obviously, it shouldn’t be combined with larger species that may see it as food, such as angel fish.  While some individuals can be a little nippy if kept alone, this behaviour is reduced dramatically when it is maintained in a group. It’s therefore recommended to buy no less than 6 of these, preferably 10 or more.

Feeding They will readily accept just about anything offered. For the best condition and colours, offer regular meals of small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp, along with dried flakes and granules. They prefer fine flakes and granulated food, such as TetraMin Flake.

Care Keep their water quality high with a good current, and these fish will do great.