Bleeding Coronary heart Tetra: Care Information, Footage, Tank Setup & Data

Bleeding Heart Tetras: Unveil the Beauty and Simplicity of This Aquarium Gem

There’s no scarcity of tetra fish species, with over 150 species internationally. Usually, tetras are very small fish, with just a few 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. Also referred to as the red-tipped tetra and the punto rojo tetra, the bleeding coronary heart tetra is a low-maintenance fish that may make a good looking point of interest in your tank.

Should you’re available in the market for one of many bigger tetra species that can carry exercise and curiosity to your tank, then the bleeding coronary heart tetra is a good choice. This beginner-friendly fish is just not 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 aren’t a species of concern right now, and attributable to their hardiness and peaceable temperament, they’re often bought in pet shops, fish shops, and thru on-line distributors.

You possibly can count on to spend wherever from $4–$8 for a single bleeding coronary heart tetra. Since these are shoaling fish, you will have to funds for a bunch of fish. Six is absolutely the minimal variety of fish you need to purpose for, however 10 or extra is right. 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 glorious aquatic pets. They’re lively fish that all the time appear to be transferring. They’re fascinating to look at and simple to take care of, making them excellent 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 vital to maintain them in shoals, although. When bleeding coronary heart tetras are saved alone or in very small teams, they might turn into timid and fearful, or they might turn into aggressive and nippy. As with all tetras, maintaining them in a bunch is a mandatory facet of sustaining the well being of your fish and your complete tank.

Care Information & Tank Set Up

Water High quality, pH & Temperature

It is a really tropical fish, so a freshwater setting that’s saved between 72–80°F is vital, with the best temperature working round 75°F. They like barely acidic water with a pH between 6.0–6.5. They’ll tolerate decrease pH ranges when saved in a blackwater tank setting, however for the well being of your fish and tank, it’s greatest to purpose for glorious water high quality as an alternative of chasing a pH stage.

Substrate

Though they’re doubtless to spend so much of time in the midst 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.

Vegetation

The bleeding coronary heart tetra prefers a densely planted setting, and you will have crops that may thrive in heat water with an acidic pH stage. Some crops to contemplate embody 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 enough to assist the flora in your tank, however floating crops and tall crops, in addition to tannin-rich objects, will 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 pleased to have a tank with some present. This present may be the present offered by a hang-on-back or canister filter, however inside filters and small powerheads can enhance water circulation as nicely.

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

Meals & Eating regimen Necessities
These fish are true omnivores, consuming all the things 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 as well provide treats, like bloodworms, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, romaine lettuce, zucchini, and cucumber.
Measurement & Development Price

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 dimension inside just some months.

Look

Named for the purple spot on the perimeters of its chest, the bleeding coronary heart tetra additionally has a blush shade 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 Situations

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

They’re usually wholesome fish, not displaying a propensity for any explicit ailments or situations. They’re in danger for commonest aquarium ailments, although, together with ich, fin rot, and parasitic infections.

Male vs Feminine

Whereas they’re related in look, there are some notable variations between female and male bleeding coronary heart tetras. Females are typically barely bigger than males, they usually typically have a extra spherical, full physique form, whereas males are typically 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 typically shorter and extra rounded.

3 Little-Identified Info About Bleeding Coronary heart Tetras

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

2. They Are Most Generally Present in South America

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

Ultimate Ideas

The bleeding coronary heart tetra is a wonderful newbie fish that makes an ideal addition to neighborhood tanks. It prefers barely acidic water and may do nicely in some blackwater environments. It is a peaceable fish when saved in shoals of applicable sizes.

When saved in small teams, fish could turn into burdened, shy, fearful, defensive, or overtly aggressive. It is a hardy fish that may do nicely 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 full of life and can carry shade and exercise to your tank.

Featured Picture Credit score: Aleron Val, Shutterstock