
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Hasemania nana
A small characin, copper to yellow-brown with white tips to the fins. Unusually for the family it has no adipose fin. Hardy and inexpensive, every fish in the trade is captive bred and undemanding about both water and food.
Hasemania nana is a small characin of the Sao Francisco basin in Minas Gerais, Brazil. FishBase gives 3.8cm SL, pH 6.0-8.0, 5-19 dH and 22-28C, and recommends groups of five or more in a tank of 60cm or longer, while Seriously Fish gives 5.0cm SL, 23-28C, pH 6.0-8.0, 5-20 dGH and a base of at least 60 by 38cm. The name comes from the white tips to the fins on a copper to yellow-brown body, and Hasemania is one of the few genera in the Characidae whose members lack an adipose fin. It favours creeks and tributaries away from the main channels and has been taken in both white and black water. Every fish in the trade is captive bred and undemanding about water and food. It suits a well-planted tank and colours up best under slightly dimmed lighting.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Silvertip Tetra lives 3-5 years.
The Silvertip Tetra grows to About 3.8-5cm.
The ideal temperature for the Silvertip Tetra is 23〜28℃.
Origin
South America (the Sao Francisco river basin in Minas Gerais, Brazil)
Lifespan
3-5 years
Size
Sources: Seriously Fish / FishBase
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / IUCN Red List
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Find listings for this species
About 3.8-5cm
Temperature
23〜28℃
Dried foods, frozen bloodworm, Daphnia, brine shrimp
Seriously Fish suggests a base of at least 60 by 38cm, about 68 litres at 30cm depth, and FishBase likewise recommends 60cm or more. It is particularly well suited to a densely planted tank, though a simple sandy layout with driftwood and leaf litter works too. Slightly dimmed lighting brings out its colour.
Seriously Fish gives 23-28C, pH 6.0-8.0 and 5-20 dGH; FishBase gives 22-28C, pH 6.0-8.0 and 5-19 dH. It is taken in both white and black water in the wild, and since every fish in the trade is farmed it is untroubled by water chemistry.
Lively and peaceful, it suits a general community and mixes with other tetras, Corydoras, small loricariids, gouramis and dwarf cichlids. Keep it away from larger fish such as angelfish that would see it as food. Single fish can turn nippy, so keep six or more, preferably ten or more.
It eats almost anything. Base the diet on dried food and give regular meals of small live and frozen fare such as bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp for colour and condition.
Breeding is fairly easy. To raise fry in numbers, use a dimly lit separate tank of about 45 by 30 by 30cm with java moss or spawning mops, or a mesh over the base to protect the adhesive eggs. To spawn a pair, condition the sexes apart and run the spawning tank a few degrees warmer than the main one. The adults eat the eggs, so remove them as soon as spawning is seen. The eggs hatch in twenty-four to thirty-six hours and the fry swim three to four days later.
FishBase lists it as IUCN Least Concern, not on the CITES appendices and harmless to people. It is hardy and treated as a beginner's fish, but kept in small numbers it turns to fin nipping. It has no adipose fin, which is the point to check when telling it from characins of similar size.
Beginner. This is a beginner-friendly species. No special equipment or experience is required, and it can be kept successfully with basic care setup.
The ideal temperature for Silvertip Tetra is 23〜28℃. Avoid sudden temperature changes and maintain a stable environment.
The average lifespan of Silvertip Tetra is 3-5 years. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.
Silvertip Tetra typically reaches About 3.8-5cm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.
Silvertip Tetra feeds on: Dried foods, frozen bloodworm, Daphnia, brine shrimp. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.
The price of Silvertip Tetra varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.
Last updated: September 17, 2026