Product Details

Silvertip Tetra – Hasemania nana

Overview:

The Silvertip Tetra is a lively, eye-catching South American tetra with a warm copper-gold body and bright pale tips to the fins. Hasemania nana is a popular shoaling fish for active community aquariums, especially where a customer wants more movement and attitude than very shy nano tetras. It is hardy and adaptable once settled, but it should be kept in a good-sized group, as small numbers can become nippy or restless.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Silvertip Tetra
Other Names: Silver Tip Tetra, Copper Tetra, Silver-tipped Tetra
Scientific Name: Hasemania nana
Fish Type: Tetra / Characin
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

The Silvertip Tetra is native to Brazil, specifically the São Francisco River basin in Minas Gerais. FishBase records the species as a freshwater pelagic characin from this region.

In the aquarium, it suits layouts that provide both open swimming space and planted cover. A mix of live plants, darker décor, shaded areas and gentle to moderate flow works well, while clean, well-oxygenated water is important for long-term health.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Silvertip Tetras have a slim, active tetra body with a golden, bronze or copper sheen. The fins often show pale white or silver tips, giving the species its common name. Males are usually slimmer and more colourful, while females tend to be rounder-bodied and slightly less intense in colour.

Adults usually reach around 3.5–4 cm, with FishBase listing a maximum of 3.8 cm standard length.

Aquarium Suitability:

This is a good fish for a lively planted community aquarium, robust small-fish setup or mixed tetra display. It is peaceful when kept correctly, but more active and assertive than very gentle species such as Ember Tetras or small rasboras. It is best suited to aquariums with swimming room, plant cover and tank mates that are not slow, delicate or long-finned.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 75–90 litres for a group, with a tank length of at least 60 cm recommended. FishBase gives a minimum aquarium size of 60 cm and recommends group keeping, but a little more space is better for reducing chasing and allowing natural shoaling.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 22–28°C
pH: 6.0–8.0
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard; adaptable if stable
Additional Notes: FishBase lists Hasemania nana at 22–28°C, pH 6.0–8.0 and hardness 5–19 dH. Keep water clean and well oxygenated. Avoid immature aquariums, high nitrate and sudden changes in water chemistry.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Silvertip Tetras are active community fish, but they can be cheeky or fin-nippy if kept in small numbers or cramped conditions. Suitable tank mates include other active tetras, danios, rasboras, peaceful barbs, Cory-type catfish, bristlenose plecs, small rainbowfish and robust peaceful community species.

Avoid long-finned fish such as fancy guppies, male bettas, slow fancy goldfish and delicate shy nano species. Keep in a group of at least 8, with 10 or more preferred. Fishkeeper also recommends groups of six or more and warns against keeping them with long-finned species.

Feeding:

Silvertip Tetras are easy-feeding omnivores. Offer quality flakes, small granules or micro pellets as the staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp, mosquito larvae and bloodworm. Small varied foods help improve colour, body condition and display behaviour.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This species usually swims in the middle and upper levels, moving actively in a loose group. Males may chase and display to one another, especially when mature, but this is usually manageable in a spacious aquarium with a proper shoal. Seriously Fish describes the species as lively, colourful and peaceful, making it suitable for general community aquariums when housed appropriately.

Care Notes:

Add Silvertip Tetras only to a mature, fully cycled aquarium. Keep them in a decent-sized group, provide open swimming space and avoid slow long-finned tank mates. A darker substrate, plants and shaded areas will help bring out their copper colour. A secure lid is recommended, as active tetras can jump if startled. Most aquarium Silvertip Tetras are captive-bred and generally adaptable, but stable water quality remains important.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Common / Usually captive-bred

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, colour, pattern and markings can occur between individual fish.