Have test strips on hand and regularly monitor the change in the pH level and hardness of the tank’s water. Water temperature: 72 to 80 ☏ ( 75 ☏ is the sweet spot for this species)īleeding heart tetras are resilient, yet we suggest you aim for the parameters suggested above to ensure the best of health and coloration for your fish.These fish won’t have problems if you are slightly outside of these ranges: This is one of the chief reasons why we suggest Bleeding Heart fish to beginners. Therefore, the tetras you get from shops can now endure a range of water parameters in the home aquarium. These fish experience gentle currents and a variety of slightly acidic water conditions.īut as with other tetras, nearly 100 percent of the fish you see in stores have been bred in captivity for so long. – Water ParametersĪs mentioned earlier, Bleeding Heart tetras are found in the upper regions of the Amazon River basin. You can feed Bleeding Heart tetras a few times a day, but only provide food that your fish can eat within three minutes. These plant-based foods aren’t essential, but they will provide useful nutrients for your pets. Your fish will also like to graze on submerged pieces of blanched vegetables and fresh fruit whenever available. Yes, you can provide your fish dry commercial fish food for regular feedings, but be sure to give them an assortment of live or freeze-dried foods as occasional snacks as well. Wrong! These tiny fish might be opportunistic, but that doesn’t mean they should be left to their own devices. While Bleeding Heart fish prefer meaty foods, they are still considered omnivores.Īs they are omnivores, feeding Bleeding Heart tetras should be a piece of cake, right? Just throw them some high-quality flakes and pellets and they are good to go. What do bleeding heart tetras eat? The stomach contents of wild-caught specimens include 75 percent of aquatic insects and larvae and 25 percent of plant matter. The transparent tailfins, anal fins, and pectoral fins are accented with black and red. In terms of color, Bleeding Heart fish take on a rosy metallic hue. These fish can look like little hunchbacks as their heads taper down to their pointy snouts. – Unique Features and Colors of the Bleeding TetraĪs it is typical of other tetras, the Bleeding Heart tetra features a laterally compressed, diamond-shaped body. While these species remain small in home aquariums, they are known to grow bigger in the wild. Their body length is equivalent to your credit card or three paper clips. The average Bleeding Heart fish can grow up to three inches lengthwise. These cute patterns don’t exactly resemble hearts upon closer inspection, but they do give quite the illusion and fool your eyes at a first glance! – How Big Do Bleeding Heart Tetra Fish Grow? Erythrostigma Get Its Common Name?īleeding Heart tetras got their name from the red heart-shaped pattern that you can find on either side of the fish just ahead of their ventral fins, nearing both gills. Their playful nature and sunny disposition are a reflection of their natural habitat that abounds with life! – How Did the H. These small, social freshwater fish dwell in tributaries, lakes, and streams with lush environments. In Ancient Greek, eruthros translates to “red” and stigma means “to brand”, in reference to the unique pattern of the fish.īleeding Hearts thrive in large groups that can be found in the Amazon River Basin and other river basins in South America and Colombia. Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma is the scientific name of the Bleeding Heart fish. – How Do Male Bleeding Heart Tetras Differ From Females?.– What Happens When a Bleeding Heart Tetra Is Kept Alone?.

– Is the Bleeding Heart Tetra a Schooling Species?.Bleeding Heart Tetra Behavior and Temperament.– Do Bleeding Heart Tetra Fish Lose Their Colors?.– Unique Features and Colors of the Bleeding Tetra.– How Big Do Bleeding Heart Tetra Fish Grow?.Hyphessobrycon Erythrostigma Background.Females are usually more full-bodied and males have a larger dorsal fin. The Bleeding Heart Tetra’s usual life span is between 3-5 years and it reaches up to 7cm in length. Its original habitat is the Amazon River Basin and other river basins in South America and Columbia, but they are very easily bred in aquariums as well. Being schooling fish, they are very active and will surely turn out to be your aquarium’s main attraction. They distinguish themselves by the red spot on their sides, commonly known as a “heart,” which gives the species its popular name “bleeding heart” tetra. The Bleeding Heart Tetra, also known as Punto Rojo or Red Tipped Tetra, is a very easy to keep tropical fish, as it is very hardy, so it is one of the most suitable fish species for beginner aquarists.

Bleeding heart tetra