Buenos Aires tetra

Overview

The Buenos Aires tetra (Hyphessobrycon anisitsi) is a big, tough, silvery tetra with red-tipped fins and a dark tail spot. Hardy to the point of being bulletproof and tolerant of cool water, it has been a hobby staple for decades. Its two quirks — a hearty appetite for soft plants and a boisterous streak — mean it needs the right setup, but for a robust, active community it is hard to beat.

Tank & water

Being large and energetic, a shoal needs at least 110 litres (30 gallons) with plenty of length. Priorities:

• Temperature: very adaptable across 18–28 °C; they tolerate cooler rooms well but a heater keeps things stable.
• Water: undemanding at pH 6.0–8.0 across soft to hard water.
• Filtration: they are messy eaters, so use a strong filter and keep up water changes.
• Hardy plants only: expect soft plants to be eaten; stick to anubias, java fern and vallisneria.

Feeding

These are appetite-driven omnivores with a strong vegetable leaning. Feed a quality flake or pellet staple plus regular plant matter — blanched spinach, spirulina flake, peas — and frozen or live foods like bloodworm and brine shrimp. Well-fed fish with plenty of greens are less inclined to strip your plants. Feed once or twice daily, avoiding excess.

Tankmates

Match their energy with robust, fast tankmates: larger barbs, rosy barbs, zebra danios, rainbowfish and sturdy bottom dwellers. Avoid slow, long-finned or timid fish that will be nipped or outcompeted. Keep them in a shoal of six or more so their attention stays within the group — see best centerpiece fish for a community tank.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Adding them to a delicate planted aquascape
• Keeping too few, which increases nipping
• A tank too small for their size and speed
• Pairing them with slow or fancy-finned fish

Give them space, tough plants and a proper group, and Buenos Aires tetras are one of the most durable, lively fish you can keep.