Silver Tip Tetra (Hasemania nana)
| Silver Tip Tetra Hasemania nana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Silver Tip Tetra |
| Name Lat. | Hasemania nana |
| Synonym | Hasemania marginata |
| Family | Characins |
| Family lat. | Characidae |
| Order | Characins |
| Order lat. | Characiformes |
| Origin | Brazil |
| Habitat | Streams, tributaries |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| pH | 5.0-8.0 |
| Behavior | Peaceful |
| Keeping | Group |
| Care Level | Easy |
| Reproduction | Egg scatterer |
| Breeding | Moderately difficult |
| Life Span | 4-5 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 5 cm |
| Temperature | 22-28 °C |
| Hardness | 5-15 °dH |
| Aquarium | ~ 80 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 2" |
| Temperature | 72-82 °F |
| Hardness | 89-267 ppm |
| Aquarium | ~ 20 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The home of the copper tetra is the Rio Sao Francisco basin in eastern Brazil. However, they are also native to the tributaries of the Rio Purus in western Brazil.
Maintenance
The aquarium should have soft, slightly acidic water and varied planting that provides both shelter and swimming space. A dark substrate, shaded light (floating plant cover) and low current is ideal.
There should be no detectable ammonia, ammonium or nitrite, and the nitrate level should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.
Diet
The food offer consists of live food, such as cyclops, daphnia and tubifex, which is accepted without problems also in frozen form, supplemented with frozen food mixtures. Especially mysis and mosquito larvae should not be missing. In addition, they need regular vegetable food, such as crushed peas, mashed leafy and wild vegetables or dry food (flakes, granules) with high vegetable content (spirulina, kelp)
A regular and varied diet promotes health and increases resistance. Only feed as much as is eaten immediately (in a maximum of 10 minutes).
Behaviour and compatibility
Copper tetras are peaceful, sociable fish that are well suited for any community tank. At least 5 copper tetras, but preferably more should be kept together.
Basically, only mutually compatible fish species with similar demands on water quality and water temperature may be socialized
Sex dimorphism
The males are more slender and clearly more strongly colored. The tip of the anal fin is white in the male and yellow in the female
Reproduction and breeding
For breeding is suitable 30-40 cm long breeding tank, dimly lit, with fine-feathered plants or other spawning substrate. The water should have a pH of 5.5-6.5, a hardness of 4° dH and a temperature of 24-26 °C. After spawning, the parents must be separated. The larvae hatch after about 24 hours and swim freely from the 5th day.
Juveniles must be fed several times a day with special rearing food (dust food). In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the spawn is easy prey.
Important
Feeding plant foods reduces the risk of fish eating the tender shoots of aquatic plants.
The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels should be checked at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even if the contaminant level has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Sabina Lamboj; Image: petdata
Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); RIEHL & BAENSCH (2006): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF