{"product_id":"bleeding-heart-tetra-hyphessobrycon-erythrostigma-freshwater","title":"Bleeding Heart Tetra (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eBleeding Heart Tetra\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eHyphessobrycon erythrostigma\u003c\/em\u003e) is a peaceful, beginner-to-intermediate community fish instantly recognizable by the vivid red \"bleeding heart\" spot on its silver-pink flank and the trailing fins of mature males. Native to the slow, shaded blackwaters of the upper Amazon basin, these tetras thrive in well-planted tanks with soft lighting and gentle flow, where their bold coloration really pops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLooking for more peaceful community fish or supplies for your setup? Browse our full \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003eFreshwater collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30 gallons minimum — they need horizontal swimming room and grow larger than most tetras.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShoaling:\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep in groups of \u003cstrong\u003e6 or more\u003c\/strong\u003e. Lone or paired bleeding hearts become shy, stressed, and lose color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e 72–82°F, pH 6.0–7.5, soft to moderately hard (GH 4–10). Tolerant of typical community values once acclimated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAquascape:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dim lighting, driftwood, leaf litter, and dense planting along the back and sides bring out the brightest reds. Leave open swimming lanes in the middle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Omnivore. Offer a quality \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-brine-shrimp-plus-flake-tropical-fish-food\"\u003etropical flake or brine shrimp flake\u003c\/a\u003e as the staple, supplemented with frozen bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp 2–3 times per week.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaintenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Weekly 20–25% water changes. Use \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-prime-complete-concentrated-water-conditioner\"\u003eSeachem Prime\u003c\/a\u003e to neutralize chlorine, chloramine, and ammonia.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:560px;\"\u003e\n  \u003ctbody\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;width:40%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBleeding Heart Tetra\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eHyphessobrycon erythrostigma\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCharacidae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare Level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBeginner to Intermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eOmnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eUpper Amazon basin (Peru, Colombia)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e5+ years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMax Adult Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eApproximately 2.5–3 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater Type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;\"\u003eCompatibility \u0026amp; Tank Mates\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/strong\u003e Peaceful and shoaling. Occasional mild fin-nipping can occur when kept in groups smaller than six or when housed with very long-finned, slow-moving fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGreat with:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eOther peaceful tetras like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/black-skirt-tetra-gymnocorymbus-ternetzi-freshwater\"\u003eBlack Skirt Tetras\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eBottom-dwelling community catfish such as \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/panda-cory-corydoras-panda-freshwater\"\u003ePanda Corys\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/orange-laser-corydoras\"\u003eOrange Laser Corydoras\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAlgae-eating snails such as \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/pink-lady-nerite-snail-clithon-sowerbyanum-freshwater-algae-eating-snail\"\u003eNerite Snails\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ePeaceful rasboras, hatchetfish, dwarf cichlids (rams), and small loaches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvoid:\u003c\/strong\u003e bettas and angelfish with long flowing fins, aggressive cichlids, very large or boisterous tank mates, and any fish small enough to be mistaken for food.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-brine-shrimp-plus-flake-tropical-fish-food\"\u003eOcean Nutrition Brine Shrimp Plus Flake\u003c\/a\u003e — high-protein staple flake\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-prime-complete-concentrated-water-conditioner\"\u003eSeachem Prime\u003c\/a\u003e — complete water conditioner for every water change\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/nutrition\"\u003eBrowse all freshwater foods\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/maintenance-water-care\"\u003eWater care \u0026amp; treatments\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003eShop all freshwater livestock \u0026amp; supplies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow many Bleeding Heart Tetras should I keep together?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA minimum of six. Larger groups (8–10+) show stronger color, more natural shoaling behavior, and less fin nipping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre Bleeding Heart Tetras fin nippers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey're considered peaceful but can occasionally nip slow, long-finned tank mates if under-shoaled or stressed. A proper group size and plenty of swimming room virtually eliminate the issue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat size tank do they need?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e30 gallons is the practical minimum. Bleeding hearts grow larger and swim more actively than neons or ember tetras, so a longer footprint is far better than a tall, narrow tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill the \"bleeding heart\" spot fade?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe red spot stays for life, but its intensity depends on diet, water quality, and stress. Dim lighting, dark substrate, and a varied diet keep it brightest.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48079498477787,"sku":"FW1-F1116","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/image_a5635300-99ee-48e9-ba33-1105f082a214.jpg?v=1766517812","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/bleeding-heart-tetra-hyphessobrycon-erythrostigma-freshwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}