We've returned with another characin in the spotlight- it's the silvertip tetra (Hasemania nana). Thank you @ijet7 for researching this week's species!
The silvertip tetra (Hasemania nana) is a species of freshwater fish and a member of the American characins family Acestrorhamphidae. The genus name Hasemania honors American zoologist John D. Haseman, and the species name nana comes from Latin and means dwarf. Together, the binomial name means “Haseman’s little/dwarf fish.”
This species of omnivorous tetra is native to the São Francisco basin in Brazil, where it inhabits streams, creeks, and tributaries. It has also been found in other parts of South America in white and black water conditions. They are considered a mid-water species and a shoaling fish. Often, they can be found foraging or resting in sandy substrates.
These tetras typically grow to 1.2” (3cm) and up to 2” (5cm), regardless of sex. Adult males will have a coppery-orange color, whereas females and juveniles will have a translucent yellow hue. Their fins and forked tails will have silvery-white tips, and their bodies will have a black stripe in the middle.
Currently, São Francisco faces many challenges due to human activities, like dam construction and agriculture. The ongoing environmental degradation raises concerns on the sustainability of this ecosystem. Despite these factors, the silvertip tetra is considered to be of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.
Hasemania nana is an easy-to-care for species due to its wide variety of environments. These fish can tolerate parameters of 74-82°F (23-28°C), pH levels of 6–8, and soft to hard water. They do particularly well in heavily-planted tanks. However, a more simple setup would be a biotype setup with a sandy substrate, driftwood and twister roots, and scattered dried leaves. They do best in a minimum tank size of 20 gallons (~75 liters).
Silvertip tetras are generally peaceful fish that do well in community setups. They are omnivorous and are not picky about their food. They’ll eat a variety of live and frozen foods as well as flakes and granules. However, they eat in the middle water, so foods that float and linger are best for feeding. Another thing to note is that these fish will prey on smaller fry and baby shrimp.
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