Bleeding Heart Tetra
(Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma)
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Animal Type
Fish
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Exhibits
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Range
South America
Overview
The bleeding heart tetra wears its heart on its sleeve ... well, it would if it had sleeves. Look closely at this small freshwater fish: it has a red triangular or heart-shaped spot just above its pectoral fins! The fish's body is diamond-shaped and colored in hues of grey, silver or pale pink, while the dorsal fin sports a dark patch at the tip. You can tell mature males from females by their longer, sickle-like dorsal and anal fins, and leaner bellies.
They school in small groups and prefer areas of rivers with calm currents and lots of vegetation. Submerged leaves, twigs and shoots give them ample places to hide, hunt and lay eggs. Staff who care for these fish in aquariums have observed females scattering fertilized eggs on the ground or around plants. The eggs settle and stick to these surfaces before hatching within a few days. Fry develop into juveniles after about a month. If they survive to adulthood, they can live for up to three to five years.
Quick Facts
Learn more about the bleeding heart tetra! Did you know it gets both its common and scientific name from the way it looks? Its scientific name blends the Greek words erythros and stigma, which mean red and mark, respectively.
Bleeding heart tetras live in the western Amazon River basin, mainly from central Brazil to eastern Peru.
They eat small bottom-dwelling invertebrates like worms and crustaceans.
The bleeding heart tetra, like many South American tetra species, is small. They typically reach 2 to 2.5 inches in length.
The bleeding heart tetra population is stable, and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species currently considers it a species of least concern.
Bleeding heart tetras are likely preyed upon by wading birds, aquatic snakes and larger predatory fish.
Explore Exhibit Residents
Learn more about the animals that share an exhibit with this one.
Freshwater Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)
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White-Blotched River Stingray (Potamotrygon leopoldi)
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Ripsaw Catfish (Oxydoras niger)
Ripsaw catfish, like other thorny catfish, stand out thanks to the spiky scutes along their sides.
Giant South American River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa)
The giant South American river turtle is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world.
Giant Waxy Tree Frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor)
These frogs prevent themselves from drying out by wiping wax over their bodies.