Identity and search names

Common name
Glass bloodfin tetra
Scientific name
Prionobrama filigera
Other names
Aphyocharax filigerus, Prionobrama madeirae
Category
Freshwater fish
Group
Tetras and characins
Origin
Amazon basin across Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador
Review outcome
PASSED

Environment and housing

Environment
Freshwater
Care level
Beginner to intermediate
Adult size
Up to about 6 cm total length
Expected lifespan
About 4–6 years
Minimum housing
At least 120 L with a 100 cm swimming length for a mature shoal
Temperature
23–27 °C
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness or minerals
Soft to moderately hard
Salinity
Freshwater
Lighting
Normal lighting with shaded margins
Social structure
Keep at least 10–12; larger groups better absorb fast chasing and display behaviour
Placement or swimming zone
Upper and middle water
Temperament
Peaceful but fast and continuously active
Compatibility
Use peaceful active fish of similar size; avoid timid slow feeders and long-finned fish that may be stressed by constant movement
Habitat structure
Long covered aquarium with edge planting, open upper-water lanes, moderate flow and high oxygenation

Feeding and nutrition

Diet
Small insects, crustaceans, zooplankton and varied fine prepared foods
Feeding frequency
Offer small floating and suspended meals once or twice daily across the full tank length

Breeding and reproduction

Breeding or reproduction
Egg scatterer over fine plants or a protected substrate; adults provide no care and consume eggs
Parental care
No parental care

System demands

Filtration
Use mature biological filtration sized for the full adult group and feeding load, with intake protection where juveniles, long fins or small fish are present. Provide steady turnover without preventing normal swimming or resting.
Aeration
Maintain strong surface gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, breeding crowding or any ammonia or nitrite event.
Maintenance
Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, remove waste from feeding and shelter zones, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes before nitrate or dissolved organics accumulate.

Detailed husbandry

Identity scope
This profile applies to Prionobrama filigera. Confirm trade identity and preserve breeder, supplier or locality records where relevant.
Adult size and space
Up to about 6 cm total length. At least 120 L with a 100 cm swimming length for a mature shoal. Plan around adult dimensions, activity, group size, aggression and waste production rather than sale size.
Social structure
Keep at least 10–12; larger groups better absorb fast chasing and display behaviour
Placement or swimming zone
Primary zone: Upper and middle water. Keep that zone usable for movement, feeding and refuge.
Feeding ecology
Small insects, crustaceans, zooplankton and varied fine prepared foods
Feeding plan
Offer small floating and suspended meals once or twice daily across the full tank length
Water stability
Maintain 23–27 °C; pH 6.0–7.5; hardness/minerals: Soft to moderately hard. Stable oxygenation and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact number.
Adult projected load
Plan capacity for Keep at least 10–12; larger groups better absorb fast chasing and display behaviour at the documented adult size (Up to about 6 cm total length) in At least 120 L with a 100 cm swimming length for a mature shoal. Include feeding intensity, territorial behaviour and breeding growth rather than counting sale-size juveniles.
Filtration
Use mature biological filtration sized for the full adult group and feeding load, with intake protection where juveniles, long fins or small fish are present. Provide steady turnover without preventing normal swimming or resting.
Aeration
Maintain strong surface gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, breeding crowding or any ammonia or nitrite event.
Maintenance
Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, remove waste from feeding and shelter zones, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes before nitrate or dissolved organics accumulate.
Habitat structure
Long covered aquarium with edge planting, open upper-water lanes, moderate flow and high oxygenation
Compatibility plan
Use peaceful active fish of similar size; avoid timid slow feeders and long-finned fish that may be stressed by constant movement
Breeding plan
Egg scatterer over fine plants or a protected substrate; adults provide no care and consume eggs. Parental care: No parental care.
Quarantine
Quarantine new fish in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated equipment. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm feeding and normal respiration, and never add transport water to the established aquarium.
Welfare checks
Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Its transparent body disguises a fast 6 cm open-water fish. A short nano tank or six-fish token group is inadequate.
Biosecurity and release
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.
Main risk
Its transparent body disguises a fast 6 cm open-water fish. A short nano tank or six-fish token group is inadequate.
Overridable warnings
Its transparent body disguises a fast 6 cm open-water fish. A short nano tank or six-fish token group is inadequate. Any override must still preserve adult space, social welfare, stable chemistry, oxygen and filter capacity.

Welfare and risk

Welfare checks
Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Its transparent body disguises a fast 6 cm open-water fish. A short nano tank or six-fish token group is inadequate.
Main warning
Its transparent body disguises a fast 6 cm open-water fish. A short nano tank or six-fish token group is inadequate.
Biosecurity
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.

Sources

Source note

Current identity or scope, husbandry, system-demand, welfare and Australian biosecurity evidence checked; active retired-source links removed; all AquaNexus wording is original.

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