Buenos Aires Tetra

Hyphessobrycon anisitsi

Also known as: Buenos Aires, Diamond spot characin

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 18–28°C
• pH: 6–8
• Hardness (GH): 71–322 ppm (4–18 dGH)

Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.

Care Summary

A large, hardy, cool-tolerant tetra from the subtropical rivers of southern South America, silvery with red-tinged fins and a dark, diamond-shaped spot at the tail base. It is genuinely bombproof, tolerating cool water and a wide range of conditions, which makes it a candidate for unheated tanks, but it comes with two firm caveats. First, it is a dedicated plant-eater that will strip soft aquarium plants to the stalks, so it belongs in a hardscape or tough-plant setup. Second, it is an active fin-nipper, best kept in a group of six or more with robust, fast, short-finned tankmates rather than slow or flowing-finned fish. Given the right setup it is a durable, energetic, long-lived schooler, and a useful choice for cooler community tanks.

Tankmates

Big, tough, and boisterous, with two habits that shape its keeping: it is an enthusiastic fin-nipper of slow or long-finned tankmates, and it devours soft aquarium plants. Keep it in a group of six or more (which spreads the nipping within the school) alongside robust, fast, short-finned companions such as danios and larger barbs, in a hardscape or tough-plant tank. Its cool tolerance makes it a good fish for unheated tanks. Small shrimp will be eaten; avoid bettas, guppies, and angelfish.

Compatible with

• Zebra Danio
• Gold Barb
• Rosy Barb
• Black Skirt Tetra
• Bronze Corydoras
• Bristlenose Pleco

Avoid keeping with

• Betta
• Guppy
• Angelfish
• Dwarf Gourami
• Long Finned Species
• Cherry Shrimp

Common Problems

• eating soft live plants down to the stalks
• fin nipping of slow or long-finned tankmates
• boisterousness overwhelming timid tankmates
• ich

Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20