Bleeding Coronary heart Tetra: Care Information, Photos, Tank Setup & Information

There’s no scarcity of tetra fish species, with over 150 species the world over. Normally, tetras are very small fish, with a couple of exceptions. One exception you’ll spot within the aquarium commerce is the bleeding coronary heart tetra, though that is nonetheless a small fish within the grand scheme of issues. Often known as the red-tipped tetra and the punto rojo tetra, the bleeding coronary heart tetra is a low-maintenance fish that may make a gorgeous point of interest in your tank.

Should you’re available in the market for one of many bigger tetra species that can deliver exercise and curiosity to your tank, then the bleeding coronary heart tetra is a good choice. This beginner-friendly fish isn’t solely hardy but in addition social and peaceable. Like all tetras, it is a shoaling fish, so a bunch of six or extra fish is crucial to essentially the most exercise, happiest fish, and most peaceable temperaments.

Bleeding Coronary heart Tetra Traits

Bleeding Coronary heart Tetra Price

The bleeding coronary heart tetra is native to the higher Amazon Basin, inhabiting a lot of streams, tributaries, and lakes. They don’t seem to be a species of concern presently, and attributable to their hardiness and peaceable temperament, they’re incessantly bought in pet shops, fish shops, and thru on-line distributors.

You’ll be able to count on to spend wherever from $4–$8 for a single bleeding coronary heart tetra. Since these are shoaling fish, you will have to finances for a bunch of fish. Six is absolutely the minimal variety of fish it is best to purpose for, however 10 or extra is good. Many sellers provide reductions if you buy a shoal of fish collectively versus making separate purchases.

Sociability of the Bleeding Coronary heart Tetra

Do These Fish Make Good Pets?

Sure, bleeding coronary heart tetras make wonderful aquatic pets. They’re energetic fish that all the time appear to be shifting. They’re fascinating to look at and simple to take care of, making them splendid pets.

Does This Fish Make a Good Tank Mate?

Sure! These are peaceable fish which can be a wonderful addition to tropical neighborhood tanks. It’s necessary to maintain them in shoals, although. When bleeding coronary heart tetras are stored alone or in very small teams, they might grow to be timid and fearful, or they might grow to be aggressive and nippy. As with all tetras, preserving them in a bunch is a needed side of sustaining the well being of your fish and your complete tank.

Care Information & Tank Set Up

Water High quality, pH & Temperature

This can be a really tropical fish, so a freshwater setting that’s stored between 72–80°F is necessary, with the best temperature operating round 75°F. They like barely acidic water with a pH between 6.0–6.5. They’ll tolerate decrease pH ranges when stored in a blackwater tank setting, however for the well being of your fish and tank, it’s greatest to purpose for wonderful water high quality as a substitute of chasing a pH degree.

Substrate

Though they’re doubtless to spend so much of time in the course of the water column, bleeding coronary heart tetras are additionally recognized to spend time scavenging from the underside. A sandy or high-quality gravel substrate is greatest for them. Should you select to make use of aquarium soil, it must be capped with sand or gravel to forestall messes when your fish scavenge.

Crops

The bleeding coronary heart tetra prefers a densely planted setting, and you will have vegetation that may thrive in heat water with an acidic pH degree. Some vegetation to contemplate embrace Amazon swords, Java moss, Java fern, Anubias, Cryptocoryne, Hygrophila, Tiger lotus, Amazon frogbit, and Salvinia.

Lighting

Since they’re native to densely planted waters with loads of tannins from driftwood and plant matter, bleeding coronary heart tetras don’t admire vivid lighting. Your gentle must be ample to assist the vegetation in your tank, however floating vegetation and tall vegetation, in addition to tannin-rich gadgets, may help to dim the sunshine earlier than it reaches your fish.

Filtration

The bleeding coronary heart tetra is native to waters which have motion, so they are going to be completely satisfied to have a tank with some present. This present could be the present supplied by a hang-on-back or canister filter, however inside filters and small powerheads can improve water circulation as effectively.

Issues to Know When Proudly owning a Bleeding Coronary heart Tetra:

Meals & Eating regimen Necessities
These fish are true omnivores, consuming every little thing from plant matter to small crustaceans and bugs within the wild. Present your bleeding coronary heart tetras with a high-quality weight loss program that’s made for tetras or neighborhood tanks. You may also provide treats, like bloodworms, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, romaine lettuce, zucchini, and cucumber.
Measurement & Progress Fee

Though giant for tetras, the bleeding coronary heart tetra solely reaches as much as 3 inches in size, though they’ve been discovered upwards of three.5 inches within the wild. Like many tetra species, they develop quickly, so you’ll be able to count on your bleeding hearts to succeed in their full grownup measurement inside only a few months.

Look

Named for the purple spot on the perimeters of its chest, the bleeding coronary heart tetra additionally has a blush colour on its cheeks, close to the bottom of the tail, and across the higher portion of its eyes. It has medium-length fins with white and black markings, with some fish creating lengthy, flowing fins.

Lifespan and Well being Circumstances

With correct care, bleeding hearts can exceed 5 years of age, with some residing past 10 years. Sustaining wonderful water high quality, preserving them in teams, and feeding an acceptable, high-quality weight loss program will present your bleeding hearts with the perfect shot at a protracted life.

They’re typically wholesome fish, not exhibiting a propensity for any explicit illnesses or situations. They’re in danger for most typical aquarium illnesses, although, together with ich, fin rot, and parasitic infections.

Male vs Feminine

Whereas they’re comparable in look, there are some notable variations between female and male bleeding coronary heart tetras. Females are usually barely bigger than males, and so they typically have a extra spherical, full physique form, whereas males are usually leaner since they lack eggs. Males have bigger, longer dorsal and anal fins, and the dorsal fin takes on a sickle form because it lengthens. Females’ fins are usually shorter and extra rounded.

3 Little-Identified Info About Bleeding Coronary heart Tetras

1. They Get Their Identify From the Pink Dot on Their “Coronary heart”

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2. They Are Most Generally Present in South America

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3. You Normally Discover Them Close to Vegetation, Roots, Dry Leaves, and Driftwood

Closing Ideas

The bleeding coronary heart tetra is a superb newbie fish that makes an important addition to neighborhood tanks. It prefers barely acidic water and might do effectively in some blackwater environments. This can be a peaceable fish when stored in shoals of acceptable sizes.

When stored in small teams, fish might grow to be pressured, shy, fearful, defensive, or overtly aggressive. This can be a hardy fish that may do effectively in reasonable water high quality, however with correct care and excessive water high quality, the bleeding coronary heart tetra can exceed a lifespan of 5–10 years. Notable for its purple chest patches that give it the looks of getting a bleeding coronary heart, this stunning fish is energetic and can deliver colour and exercise to your tank.

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Featured Picture Credit score: Aleron Val, Shutterstock