Silvertip Tetra
Hasemania nana
Min Tank Size
60L
Adult Size
5 cm
Lifespan
5 years
School Size
8+
About
A small, active schooling fish from the rivers and streams of the San Francisco River basin in eastern Brazil, the silvertip tetra reaches around 5 centimeters and has a warm bronze body with distinctive white or silver tips on every fin that catch the light beautifully in a planted tank. Males develop a deeper copper tone and more intense fin markings as they mature. This species is hardier than many tetras, tolerating a wide range of water parameters and adapting well to community life. They are energetic swimmers that do best in groups of eight or more, where they form loose shoals and spend their time darting around the mid to upper water column. Their active temperament means they occasionally nip at slow-moving or long-finned tankmates, so pairing them with similarly quick species is the safest approach. A well-planted tank with open swimming space and gentle to moderate flow brings out their best behavior and color. They accept virtually any aquarium food eagerly, from flakes and micro pellets to frozen daphnia and brine shrimp.
Water Parameters
Temperature
°CpH
GH
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dKHSwimming Level
Flow Preference
Keeping multiple Silvertip Tetra together
Silvertip Tetra are shoaling fish and need company of their own kind. Keep a group of at least 8. Smaller groups leave them stressed, washed-out in color, and prone to hiding.
Compatibility
Silvertips work well with other active, similarly sized fish that don't have long fins and can hold their own. Good choices include danios, smaller rasboras, Buenos Aires tetras, or robust corydoras on the bottom. They're a poor match for bettas, angelfish, guppies, gouramis, or any fish with flowing fins, those will get shredded. Dwarf cichlids are risky too. Smaller shrimp like neocaridina juveniles are at some risk, especially in a less heavily planted tank. In a densely planted 80-liter or larger setup with appropriate tankmates, silvertips are genuinely fun and relatively trouble-free.
Commonly kept with
Species this one is most often paired withCommonly tried but avoid
Often paired, but shouldn't beCare Notes
The most common beginner mistake is keeping too few. A group of four or five silvertips becomes a problem in any community tank because their energy has nowhere to go internally and they pick on everyone else. Eight is the real minimum. Another mistake is pairing them with betta fish or fancy guppies after seeing them listed as community fish. They're community fish with conditions. Tank size matters too. Sixty liters is the floor, not the comfortable middle ground. Undercrowded space with a small school is the fastest way to run into trouble with this species.
Behavior & Aggression
Silvertips are genuine fin nippers, not occasional ones. They actively target long, flowing fins and will return repeatedly to the same fish. This behavior intensifies in small groups, in cramped tanks, or when the school drops below about eight fish. Keeping them in larger numbers redistributes the energy within the school and reduces directed aggression toward other species. Brief chasing between school members is normal and mostly harmless, but watch for fish getting worn down over time. The aggression is opportunistic rather than territorial in the traditional sense.
Things to Know
- Confirmed fin nippers, avoid tankmates with long flowing fins
- Keep in groups of 8+ or fin nipping worsens significantly
- May harass dwarf shrimp, especially juveniles
- Can be nippy towards slow, long-finned fish.
- Very active swimmers, need more space than their size suggests.
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