Family: Characidae
Distribution: The Bleeding Heart Tetra inhabits the Amazon Basin in Brazil and Peru, South America.
PH: 6.5 – 6.8 pH
Temperature: 22 – 28°C (72 – 82°F)
Hardness: up to 12 dH
Description: Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma will grow to around 6.5cm in captivity and is a peaceful tank mate. The males can display some territoriality and need to be kept in shoals of at least 6.
There are a variety of sub-species, but they can all be characterised by fins edged with white and black and a bright red heart-shaped spot on their upper abdomen. The dorsal fin may also display a slight red-pink hue stretching from the base to the tip. They are transparent with a single pink line running down their sides. The body of the Bleeding Heart Tetra has a higher depth-to-length ratio than many of its family members. The males have longer dorsal and anal fins, whilst the females are more rotund.
Diet: Like the rest of the Hyphessobrycon family, the Bleeding Heart Tetra will accept almost anything you feed it. It should be fed a diet high in flakes and vegetables, as well as some dried or live foods. Using spirulina and frozen brine will bring out the best colours of your Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma.
Breeding: Aquarists may encounter some difficulty when attempting to breed Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma. Follow the general method used by the rest of the family.
Two conditioning tanks should be established to house a one-year-old male and a one-year-old female. These should be conditioned on Drosophila and insect larvae for two-to-three weeks, before the duo can be introduced into a 38L breeding tank. To set up a breeding tank, include many fine-leaved plants and a soft filtration system, but do not use substrate. Use water with a pH of 5.5 – 6.5, a dH of 2 – 4, and a temperature of 24 – 26°C (75 – 79°F). It is unknown if the eggs are light-sensitive, so it is best to keep them out of direct sunlight just in case.
It should take three days for the pair to spawn. If no eggs appear, recondition them. The eggs will appear in the leaves of the plants and the parents should be removed immediately after spawning as they are cannibalistic. A little over twenty-four hours after being laid, the eggs will hatch. The fry will appear few days later and should be fed on an initial diet of micro-organisms and baby Brine, and crushed flake ten days later.
The eggs and fry require partial water changes on a weekly basis as they are susceptible to illness in poor water conditions. Do not introduce the fry into the community tank until they are large enough to not be a meal.
Comments: Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma is not suitable for those looking at fish as a side hobby or who will not have the enthusiasm to keep it in good condition. This species requires weekly partial water changes as it is sensitive to conditions in the tank.
Whilst it enjoy a well-planted aquarium (back and sides, with an open area in the middle for swimming), the Bleeding Heart Tetra differs from its relatives in that it prefers a well-lit tank.
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Recommended Compatible Species: Avoid angelfish, bettas, and other longer-finned fish. They will do best when kept with their own species with a couple of others (such as Tiger Barbs, Corydoras, and other bottom-dwellers). Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma can nip playfully at the fins of each other and other fish, and will enter the territory of others to look for food when hungry. They should live happily with other Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They also should be good tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, Corydoras Catfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Clown loach, most Gourami (such as the Blue Gourami and Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danio and Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.
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