The Upper Amazon River Basin in Brazil, Colombia and Peru.
Maximum Size
7cm (2.8")
Temperature
23-28°C
Water Parameters
Soft and slightly acidic. pH: 5.5-7.0, dH: up to 12 degrees.
Compatibility
Community
Lighting
Medium
Sexual Dimorphism
Males have elongated dorsal & anal fins. Mature females are fuller bodied.
Feeding
Flake, granules and frozen foods
Description
Care
Named for their bright red humeral spot, Bleeding heart tetras are naturally found in habitats such as slow-moving creeks, pools and seasonal lakes that provide shelter in the form of waterlogged wood debris or aquatic vegetation. These are typically acidic and full of tanins that stain the water like tea. To really make them feel at home, the aquarium should be generously furnished, with plenty of bogwood and areas of dense planting to emulate this habitat as closely as possible. Unlike many tetras, they prefer the lower levels of the aquarium and will often be found in loose association a little distance apart above the substrate. Bleeding heart tetras are a social species that do best in large groups, although males will exhibit some competitive behaviour. These chunky tetras mix well with larger, placid species such as Eartheaters and Angelfish as well as community fishes too large to swallow. It is not advisable to keep this species alongside fancy long-finned species, such as guppies, as sometimes the elaborate finnage and slow movement can prove too much of a temptation. A couple of closely-related species could be confused with this fish. H. pyrrhonotus has a patch of colour between the dorsal fin and tail that gives it the name Red-backed bleeding heart and the very similar H. socolofi has less white in the anal fin.
Feeding
Flake, micropellets, frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, brineshrimp and daphnia.
Breeding
Difficult. Eggs are scattered amongst Java moss/spawning mops placed on the bottom of the breeding aquarium. Parents should be removed after spawning has ceased in order to prevent predation. The eggs should hatch after 24-36 hours, with the fry becoming free-swimming after 5 days. Juveniles should be offered infusoria as a first food.
Where can I buy these aquarium fish?
If you like this species and would like to find out more, we have an enormous range of aquarium fish and invertebrates available to buy in all of our stores across the UK (including freshwater tropical and marine fish).
However, please note that this species may not be available in your chosen store, even if the store specialises in this particular species. This is due to seasonality and stock availability from store-to-store. Please check with your local store about availability of specific species to purchase before making a journey.
For delivery before Christmas, orders must be placed on or before 3pm on Wednesday 20th December. We cannot guarantee delivery of these orders pre-Christmas as we are reliant on our couriers, but will use our best endeavours to get orders placed on this date out to you before Christmas. For full details of our festive delivery and opening times click here
Please note: online orders placed after 3pm on Friday 22nd December will not be dispatched until the New Year. For full details of our festive delivery and opening times click here