The Silver-Tipped Tetra is an active schooling fish with a copper-gold body and silver-white fin tips, one of the few tetras lacking an adipose fin.
Overview
Hasemania nana is a small and energetic tetra from the family Characidae, native to the Sao Francisco River basin in southeastern Brazil. In the aquarium hobby, this fish is known by several common names: the Silver-Tipped Tetra, the Copper Tetra, or simply Hasemania. The species was described as early as 1875 and has since firmly established itself among popular aquarium characins.
Adults reach a size of 3-5 cm and live 3-5 years with proper care. The body of Hasemania nana displays a distinctive copper-gold coloration with a pronounced metallic sheen. The main visual feature is the silver-white tips on the fins, which gave the fish one of its most popular common names. Males are considerably more vibrant than females, with a slimmer body and a richer copper tone that intensifies during spawning. Females are slightly larger, with a more rounded belly and more muted tones.
From a taxonomic standpoint, Hasemania nana is notable for being one of the few tetras that completely lacks an adipose fin (the small fin between the dorsal and caudal fins). This morphological characteristic makes it easy to distinguish Hasemania from most other small characins.
Tank Requirements
A school of Hasemania nana requires a tank with a minimum volume of 60 liters. Optimal water parameters are: temperature 22-28°C, pH 6.0-7.5, general hardness (GH) 5-15. Silver-Tipped Tetras are fairly undemanding and adapt well to a wide range of conditions, though they feel most at home in soft, slightly acidic water.
The tank should be densely planted along the sides and back, leaving the central area open for swimming — Silver-Tipped Tetras are highly active and need space to move. Driftwood and fallen leaves (such as Indian almond leaves) help recreate conditions close to their natural biotope, and the released tannins will tint the water a slight brownish hue, creating soft, subdued lighting under which the fishes' colors appear especially striking. A dark, fine-grained substrate works best, as it brings out the copper-gold coloration most effectively. Filtration should be efficient but produce only a moderate current, simulating the calm stretches of their native river.
Feeding and Diet
In the wild, Hasemania nana is an omnivorous species that feeds on small invertebrates, insect larvae, microcrustaceans, and plant detritus. In the aquarium, Silver-Tipped Tetras are unfussy eaters that readily accept most appropriately sized foods.
The core diet can consist of high-quality flakes or micro-pellets formulated for tropical fish. To maintain health and vibrant coloration, it is essential to supplement dry foods regularly with live or frozen options: baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, and small bloodworms. Animal-based foods in particular help bring out the rich copper tones, especially in males. Feed 2-3 times daily in small portions that the fish consume within 2-3 minutes. Silver-Tipped Tetras feed primarily in the middle water layers but will also actively take food from the surface.
Care and Maintenance
Hasemania nana is a species with modest care requirements, suitable even for beginner aquarists. To maintain stable water quality, weekly water changes of 20-25% are necessary, along with thorough substrate vacuuming. Ammonia and nitrite levels must remain at zero, and nitrate concentration should ideally be kept below 20 mg/L.
Silver-Tipped Tetras are sensitive to sudden swings in water parameters, so all changes should be gradual. During water changes, the temperature of fresh water should not differ significantly from the tank water. The tank should be kept covered with a lid — Silver-Tipped Tetras are active jumpers and may leap from an open tank, especially when stressed or during feeding. Healthy fish are active during the daytime, constantly moving as a school through the middle water layers and displaying bright coloration. Faded colors or lethargic behavior are the first signs of stress or illness, warranting an immediate check of water parameters.
Compatibility
Hasemania nana is a peaceful schooling fish, though when kept in too small a group, it may show a tendency to nip the fins of slower-moving tankmates. To avoid this, Silver-Tipped Tetras should be kept in groups of at least 8-10 individuals — in a larger school, the fish focus their attention on each other, forming an internal hierarchy, and rarely bother their neighbors.
Excellent companions include other small, active characins such as neon tetras, black neon tetras, flame tetras, glowlight tetras, and ember tetras. Among bottom dwellers, small corydoras and otocinclus are a great fit. Peaceful gouramis and rasboras also make calm companions.
Avoid housing them with large or aggressive species, as well as fish with long, flowing fins — such as bettas or angelfish — since Silver-Tipped Tetras may nip their fins. Overly slow-moving tankmates are also best avoided.
Breeding
Breeding Hasemania nana in the aquarium is of moderate difficulty. The species is a free-spawning egg scatterer with no parental care.
For spawning, prepare a separate tank of 20-30 liters with soft water (GH 4-8), slightly acidic pH (6.0-6.5), and a temperature of 26-28°C. Place fine-leaved plants or a spawning mesh on the bottom to protect the eggs from being eaten by the parents. Lighting should be dim, and filtration should be sponge-based to avoid harming the eggs and fry.
Before spawning, separate males and females for 7-10 days and feed them generously with live foods. A female ready to spawn can be easily identified by her noticeably rounded belly. Spawning typically occurs in the morning: the female scatters small, semi-transparent eggs among the plants, and the male fertilizes them. After spawning is complete, both parents must be removed immediately — Silver-Tipped Tetras will readily consume their own eggs.
Incubation lasts 24-36 hours, and 3-4 days after hatching, the fry become free-swimming and begin to feed. Initial food should be infusoria and liquid fry foods; after about a week, they can be transitioned to baby brine shrimp and micro worms. The fry grow relatively quickly and acquire the characteristic adult coloration by approximately two months of age.