Silvertip tetra

The silvertip tetra is a small, lively characin from the Rio São Francisco basin in Brazil, where it inhabits creeks and tributaries away from the main river channels. It reaches a maximum standard length of 5 cm, making it one of the smaller tetras regularly available — but what it lacks in size it makes up for in activity, as a well-maintained shoal in a planted tank is in near-constant motion. Males develop a warm copper-bronze body colour with a bright silvery-white tip on each unpaired fin, a detail most visible under subdued overhead light. The genus Hasemania is one of the few characid genera that lacks an adipose fin, a trait that helps distinguish it from superficially similar Hyphessobrycon species. A 70-litre tank is the minimum for a group of eight or more, and like most small tetras it does best in a heavily planted setup with some open swimming space. The water temperature should be kept at 23–28°C with a pH of 6.0–8.0 ; these are adaptable fish that handle a wide range of conditions as long as water quality is maintained. They are generally peaceful and make excellent community fish alongside similarly-sized danios, rasboras, Corydoras, and dwarf cichlids. Keep them in a group of at least eight, preferably ten or more, to minimise the occasional nippiness that can appear when too few are kept together. They accept virtually any food offered: dried flakes, granules, and frozen bloodworm or Daphnia all work well. Breeding is straightforward with a separate spawning tank, java moss or mops, and a mesh base to protect the adhesive eggs from the adults.