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FisheasyFreshwater

Glass Bloodfin Tetra

Prionobrama filigera

📍 South America

Ask Finn

The Glass Bloodfin Tetra is a small, translucent freshwater fish with distinctive red coloring in the fins and tail, making it an attractive addition to community aquariums. This peaceful schooling fish is relatively hardy and easy to care for, making it suitable for beginner to intermediate aquarists. They are best kept in groups and thrive in well-planted tanks with gentle water flow.

Size1.6"
Min Tank20g
School6+
peaceful
Zonemiddle

Care Guide

Diet

Feed high-quality micro pellets and small flake foods twice daily in amounts they can consume within 2-3 minutes. Supplement with live or frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodworms 2-3 times per week to enhance coloration and overall health.

Behavior

Glass Bloodfin Tetras are active, schooling fish that spend most of their time in the middle water column. They are peaceful and non-aggressive, making them excellent community fish. They exhibit natural schooling behavior and should never be kept alone, as they become stressed and may hide constantly.

Breeding

Breeding in captivity is moderately difficult and requires a separate breeding tank with fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Condition the breeding pair with live foods, then transfer to soft, acidic water (pH 5.5-6.5) with dim lighting. Eggs hatch in 24-36 hours and fry become free-swimming after 3-4 days.

Common Diseases

Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)

Symptoms

White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, rubbing against objects, lethargy

Treatment

Increase water temperature to 28-30 C (82-86 F), perform daily 25% water changes, use aquarium salt at 1 teaspoon per gallon, or administer ich medication following package directions

Fin Rot

Symptoms

Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, fin shortening

Treatment

Perform 25% water changes every 2-3 days, improve water quality, reduce stocking density, use antibacterial medication if severe

Neon Tetra Disease

Symptoms

Loss of coloration, spinal curvature, lethargy, loss of appetite, erratic swimming

Treatment

No cure available; isolate affected fish to prevent spread, maintain excellent water quality, euthanize severely affected individuals

Bacterial Infection

Symptoms

Redness on body or fins, swelling, open sores, cloudy eyes, loss of appetite

Treatment

Improve water quality with frequent changes, use broad-spectrum antibiotic medication, isolate severely infected fish, maintain optimal temperature and parameters

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Quick Facts

diet
Omnivore - small flakes, micro pellets, and occasional live foods like daphnia
lifespan
3-5 years
max size
4 cm (1.6 in)
tank size
20 gallons minimum
temperament
peaceful

Water it likes

ph
6.0-7.5
ammonia
0 ppm
nitrate
<20 ppm
hardness
4-8 dGH
temperature
72–79°F (22–26°C)

Stats

Community tips0
Kept by0 hobbyists