Silvertip Tetra - Hasemania Nana

Silvertip Tetra (Hasemania nana)

The Silvertip Tetra is a lively and attractive South American shoaling fish, loved for its warm copper-gold body colour, black tail marking and bright white-silver tips on the fins. Also known as the Silver Tip Tetra or Copper Tetra, this species is more active and confident than many smaller tetras, making it a great choice for a mature community aquarium with open swimming space, planted areas and similarly robust peaceful tank mates.

Common Name:
Silvertip Tetra. Also commonly referred to as the Silver Tip Tetra, Silver-Tipped Tetra, Copper Tetra or Tipped Tetra.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Hasemania nana

Maximum Size:
Around 3.5–5 cm in captivity, with scientific records listing up to 3.8 cm standard length. Males are usually more coppery and intense in colour, while females are often fuller-bodied.

Water Type:
Freshwater

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Native to South America, specifically the São Francisco River basin in Minas Gerais, Brazil. In the wild, it is associated with freshwater streams, creeks and vegetated habitats where it lives in groups among plant cover and open swimming areas. FishBase records the species from the São Francisco basin and lists it as a freshwater pelagic species.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 22–28°C
pH Range: 6.0–8.0
Hardness: soft to moderately hard water, with around 5–19 dH tolerated

Temperament:
Generally peaceful, but lively and sometimes mildly nippy if kept in too small a group or in a cramped aquarium. Best kept with active, similarly sized peaceful fish rather than slow, shy or long-finned species.

Diet:
Omnivorous. It should be offered a varied diet including quality fine flake, micro pellets, small granules, frozen daphnia, brineshrimp, cyclops, bloodworm and occasional small live foods. A varied diet helps maintain strong colour and active behaviour.

Minimum Tank Size:
A practical recommendation is at least 60 litres for a proper group, with a 60 cm aquarium or larger preferred for open swimming space and natural shoaling behaviour. FishBase also notes group keeping and a minimum aquarium size of 60 cm.

Behaviour & Activity:
This is an active mid-to-upper level shoaling fish that should be kept in a group of at least 6, ideally 8–10 or more. In good numbers, Silvertip Tetras are more confident, less likely to bother other fish and far more natural in behaviour. Males may display to each other with stronger copper colouration and fin flaring, especially in planted aquariums with open swimming space.

Aquarium Category:
Community Fish
This species is suitable for a robust peaceful community aquarium. Good tank mates include other active tetras, rasboras, danios, livebearers, peaceful barbs, Corydoras, smaller plecos, dwarf cichlids and calm gouramis. Avoid very long-finned fish, slow delicate species, tiny nano fish, aggressive cichlids and large predators. Fishkeeper also advises avoiding long-finned tank mates and keeping Silvertips in groups of 6 or more.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Best kept in a mature, well-filtered aquarium with clean, well-oxygenated water, planted areas and open swimming space. A darker substrate and background can help enhance their copper colour. Keeping them in a proper shoal is important, as small groups are more likely to become fin-nippy or overly territorial. A secure lid is recommended, as active tetras may jump when startled.

Suitable for:
Beginner to intermediate fishkeepers

Availability:
Common in trade, usually as captive-bred stock

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.