Glass Bloodfin Tetra (Prionobrama filigera)

Remarks:  A real classic in the hobby since they were first imported in 1931, the glass bloodfin tetra (Prionobrama filigera) is a unique and beautiful species. Most of its body is translucent with a blue-green iridescence save for the blood red tail it gets upon maturity and once settled in their environment. With how long they have been around, most specimens seen in the hobby are captive bred, but wild imports are occasionally available. Many have fallen in love with this species due to their ease of care, prolific spawning habits, and graceful coloration.

  Glass bloodfin tetras can be found across the Amazon River basin in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. Dwelling in a broad range of habitats from swift streams to calm blackwater pools, they are very adaptable which translates to their ease of care in the home aquarium. Glass bloodfin tetras will prefer soft, acidic parameters but can tolerate those leaning toward more neutral conditions. This combined with their peaceful nature makes them a great choice for a community tank or those just starting out in the hobby.

  While they may be hardy and appreciate a lot of open space to swim, glass bloodfin tetras can be skittish if they have nowhere to hide, are not kept in appropriate numbers, or are housed with aggressive tankmates. To prevent these issues, we recommend providing hiding spots and breaks in line of sight such as with live plants, keeping groups of at least 6-8, and taking care when choosing tankmates.

  Breeding glass bloodfin tetras is easy so long as they are given a good start and the typical methods for breeding egg-scatterers are adhered to. To start, it is recommended to get a large group with multiple males and females. You can tell them apart as when mature, female fish will have rounder bodies while males will be more streamlined, have a dark stripe next to the white seam on the anal fin that is present on both sexes, and sometimes have extensions to their fins. Once a good breeding group of glass bloodfin tetras is acquired, they should be conditioned with a high-quality diet. The upturned mouth structure they possess is a clue to their natural diet of surface-dwelling invertebrates so mimicking this diet rich in insect protein will be the most productive for conditioning. A conditioned breeding group or pair can then be placed over a mat of moss, yarn, or a mesh for the eggs to fall through where the fish can’t reach as they will eat their own eggs. Once the fry have hatched in a few days, they can be started on infusoria and then live baby brine shrimp once they are large enough.

  Whether breeding the glass bloodfin tetra or just looking to keep them for personal enjoyment, they are a fantastic species that we think any keeper should have at least once.