Bleeding Heart Tetra Identification Guide
Identify the bleeding heart tetra by the round red 'blood spot' mark on its deep, silvery-pink flank.
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Key identification features
- Deep, laterally compressed, disc-like body reaching about 2.5 to 3 inches (6-7.5 cm)
- Rosy pink-red overall body tone with a silvery sheen
- Distinct round red spot on the flank just below the front of the dorsal fin, resembling a "bleeding heart"
- Long, sickle-shaped dorsal fin, especially pronounced and extended in mature males
- Fins tinged red-pink, with a dark-and-white edged dorsal fin tip
- Rounded snout and a noticeably tall, compressed body profile compared with slimmer tetra species
Common look-alikes
- Red phantom tetra: also reddish but far smaller and slimmer, with a black shoulder spot instead of a rounded red "blood spot."
- Diamond tetra: similarly deep-bodied but silvery with iridescent scale flecks rather than the solid red flank spot.
- Colombian tetra: larger and more elongated, with black-and-white edged fins instead of a sickle-shaped dorsal fin.
Where you'll see one
Native to slow-moving forest streams and tributaries of the upper Amazon basin in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, schooling in shaded, leaf-littered blackwater habitats among submerged roots and fallen branches.
Frequently asked questions
What is the defining mark of the bleeding heart tetra?
A distinct round red spot on the upper flank beneath the dorsal fin, giving the species its name.
How can I tell a mature male from a female?
Males grow a longer, sickle-shaped dorsal fin, while females have a shorter, more triangular dorsal fin.