Scientific Name Hyphessobrycon Anisitsi
Family Characidae
pH 6.0 – 8.5
dH 2 – 35
Temp 18– 27 degrees
Life Span 5+ years

Origin

Buenos Aires Tetra originates from South America in the Uruguay and Parana River Basins

Description

The Buenos Aires Tetra, AKA Diamond Spot Tetra, Red Cross Fish is one of the larger tetras that can grow up to about 7cm in size. Males are more vibrant in colour as adults especially with females present. Females have a larger more rounded body. Great fish for beginners being one of the hardiest tetras available. Body is silver in colour with the pelvic, anal and caudal fins coloured in a hint of orange.  Its most notable feature the black cross shaped pattern near the end of the tail fin.

Environment

Best kept in a tank with plastic plants or no plants at all as they love to eat them.  If keeping plants use Anubias, Vals or Java Fern. Keep well fed to avoid these being eaten. Rocks and/or driftwood. Gravel or sand. Being an extremely hardy fish they are able to adapt to most water conditions. Minimum tank size should be about 80 litres, the longer the better as they are quite active and need the room to move.

Behaviour

Quite a peaceful fish but very active. They are fin nippers so best kept in groups of 6 or more so to minimize them bothering other tank mates, especially ones with longer fins.  Keep with other faster more active fish. Smaller slower fish can be seen as food so keeping them in groups will help with this. Tank mates can include Barbs, Gouramis, Rainbowfish,  Black Widows, Clown loaches, Rasboras, Danionins, Catfish.  Mid to top dwelling fish.

Food

Buenos Aires Tetras are omnivores with a tremendous appetite, so keep well feed.  Feed them flakes, pellets, live and frozen foods like insects, worms, crustaceans, bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp.  Live plants and vegetables like fresh blanched spinach, lettuce. Feed up to several times a day.

Disease

There are no specific diseases that directly affect this species but they are prone to the variety of others.

Breeding

Being an egg scattering fish, they are easy to breed. Use a small aquarium and a sponge filter with plenty of aeration. Use aged slightly acidic water with a temperature around 24 degrees.  Keep dimly lit. Keep in groups or pair off. Spawning will usually take anywhere from 2 up to 4hrs. Can be up to 2000 eggs from a mature female. Eggs will hatch around 24 – 36 hrs. It will be about 3 – 4 days until they become free swimming. There are no parental instincts with this fish so remove them once spawned as they have a tendency to eat the eggs and off spring.