Bleeding heart tetras with shrimp

By the Shrimp Tank Hub editorsUpdated Oct 27, 2026Research-based

The bleeding heart tetra is a deep-bodied, silvery-pink characid named for the red "heart" spot on its flank, a marking Seriously Fish says no other characid has. Seriously Fish now lists it as Megalamphodus erythrostigma, and Maidenhead Aquatics notes the same move; older names include Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma. It comes from the upper Amazon basin where Brazil, Peru and Colombia meet, living in sluggish, tea-stained tributaries, side arms and forest lakes among roots and fallen branches (Seriously Fish, Maidenhead Aquatics).

Bleeding heart tetra at a glance

Will bleeding heart tetras eat shrimp?

• Adult shrimp: at risk. Our sources don't test bleeding hearts with shrimp, but Aquarium Co-Op says to avoid medium to large fish with cherry shrimp, Practical Fishkeeping's Nathan Hill personally counts the larger tetras among fish that will eventually eat shrimp, and Maidenhead Aquatics warns against keeping them with small fish. In our reading a 2.4 to 2.8-inch tetra can catch small males and freshly molted shrimp, even if a full-grown female is usually too big.
• Shrimplets: expect them to be eaten. Neale Monks at Practical Fishkeeping says pretty much any active fish, even one as small as a tetra, views hatchling shrimp as food, and Seriously Fish found aquatic insects and larvae made up 75% of the stomach contents in one wild population.
• Eggs and berried females: eggs are safe while carried under the tail.

Unlike many tetras, bleeding hearts tend to hang in the lower levels of the tank (Maidenhead Aquatics), which is where shrimp live, so in our reading they will meet your shrimp more often than a surface or midwater fish would. For gentler choices, compare ember tetras with shrimp, green neon tetras with shrimp and lemon tetras with shrimp, or see the full cherry shrimp tank mates list. Practical Fishkeeping suggests the bentosi (ornate) tetra, about 1.6 in, as a smaller alternative to the bleeding heart.

Matching the water

Bleeding hearts come from soft, acidic blackwater (Seriously Fish). Seriously Fish lists 70–82 °F, pH 4.0–7.5 and 1–12 dGH; Maidenhead Aquatics gives 23–28 °C and pH 5.5–7.0. Cherry-type shrimp tolerate 65–85 °F, pH 6.2–8.0 and GH 4–8 (The Shrimp Farm). By our comparison, about 74–78 °F, pH 6.5–7.0 and GH 4–8 is the overlap; it sits at the soft, acidic end for cherries and the harder end for the tetra. Crystal and other Caridina like soft, acidic water too, but they prefer it cooler (see crystal red shrimp care), and with this much shrimplet risk we wouldn't pair them (our reading). See shrimp tank pH, GH and KH explained and shrimp water parameters.

Tank size and setup

• Size: Seriously Fish calls a base of 36 × 12 in the smallest to consider, about 21 US gallons.
• Mature, clean water: Seriously Fish says this species needs spotless water, routine weekly water changes and a biologically mature tank. Shrimp need the same. See how to cycle a shrimp tank and shrimp tank water changes.
• Dim, planted and woody: Seriously Fish suggests live plants, a dark substrate, wood roots and branches for shade, leaf litter, dim light and floating plants. Maidenhead Aquatics adds bogwood and dense planting. Dense moss gives shrimp places to hide (Aquarium Co-Op). See java moss for shrimp and driftwood and botanicals for shrimp.
• Slow flow: Heiko Bleher suggests a slowly flowing filter, since these fish come from still water (Practical Fishkeeping). A sponge filter suits both (our suggestion). See shrimp-safe filters.

Group size and behavior

Seriously Fish suggests a mixed-sex group of at least 8–10, plus other schooling fish for security; rival males spar and show their best colors while competing. Adult males are territorial to an extent, sometimes toward similar-shaped fish (Seriously Fish). Males grow larger and develop long dorsal, pelvic and anal fins, while females are rounder (Seriously Fish, Maidenhead Aquatics).

Other tankmates

Seriously Fish pairs them with similar-sized characins, hatchetfish, pencilfish, small catfish and non-predatory medium-sized cichlids, and Maidenhead Aquatics suggests larger placid fish such as eartheaters and angelfish. Maidenhead Aquatics warns against slow, long-finned fish such as guppies, which can tempt them. Cichlids hunt shrimp (Aquarium Co-Op), so in a shrimp tank stick to the small catfish and peaceful upper-water fish. See otocinclus with shrimp, corydoras with shrimp and marbled hatchetfish with shrimp.

Feeding both

Seriously Fish says they are easy to feed but color up best on regular small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and Artemia, alongside quality flakes and granules with some plant or algae content; pieces of fresh fruit are grazed too, but remove them within a few hours. Feed the tetras first, then drop sinking shrimp food into a planted corner (our suggestion). See best shrimp food.

How to add bleeding heart tetras to a shrimp tank

• Shrimp first. Practical Fishkeeping suggests letting the shrimp colony build up before adding fish; hiding places and well-fed fish reduce losses.
• Consider bigger shrimp. Neale Monks suggests larger shrimp such as Amanos when the fish are likely to eat babies. See Amano shrimp care.
• Acclimate slowly to your water. See how to drip acclimate.
• Watch shrimp numbers for the first few weeks, especially after molts.
• Quarantine the fish separately. Practical Fishkeeping says many fish medications are not safe for invertebrates. If fish get sick, ask a fish veterinarian or an experienced store about treatment that won't harm the shrimp. See how to quarantine and is copper toxic to shrimp.

Common mistakes

• Treating a 2.5-inch, bottom-hugging tetra as a nano fish.
• Adding them to a new tank; Seriously Fish says never to put them in a biologically immature one.
• Keeping two or three, so the males have no one else to spar with.
• Expecting a breeding cherry colony to keep up with a school hunting near the substrate.

Track it

Log temperature, pH, GH and TDS on the free Water Parameter Log printable so you can keep the tank in the range both species share.

Frequently asked questions

Will bleeding heart tetras eat cherry shrimp?

They will eat shrimplets, and in our reading small or freshly molted adults are at risk too. They reach 2.4 to 2.8 inches, and Maidenhead Aquatics advises against keeping them with small fish. We rate them a high risk.

How big do bleeding heart tetras get?

About 2.4 inches (60 mm standard length) per Seriously Fish, or 7 cm (2.8 inches) per Maidenhead Aquatics.

What size tank do bleeding heart tetras need?

A base of at least 36 by 12 inches, about 21 US gallons (Seriously Fish).

How many bleeding heart tetras should I keep?

A mixed-sex group of at least 8 to 10 (Seriously Fish).

Are bleeding heart tetras aggressive?

Generally peaceful, but adult males are territorial to an extent (Seriously Fish), and they shouldn't be kept with long-finned fish like guppies (Maidenhead Aquatics).

What water do bleeding heart tetras need?

Soft, acidic water: Seriously Fish lists 70 to 82 °F, pH 4.0 to 7.5 and 1 to 12 dGH. With cherry shrimp, about 74 to 78 °F and pH 6.5 to 7.0 is the overlap.

Sources: Seriously Fish, Megalamphodus erythrostigma (bleeding heart tetra) (now Megalamphodus; upper Amazon where Brazil, Peru and Colombia meet; sluggish tributaries, side arms, forest lakes, wood; soft, poorly buffered, tannin-stained water; red humeral spot unique among characids; 60 mm SL; base 90 × 30 cm, about 21 US gal; 21–28 °C, pH 4.0–7.5, 1–12 dGH; plants, dark substrate, wood, leaf litter, dim light, floating plants; spotless water, weekly changes, never an immature tank; opportunistic omnivore, wild stomachs of fruit or 75% insects and larvae; bloodworm, Daphnia, Artemia, flakes with plant content, fruit; generally peaceful, adult males territorial; groups of at least 8–10; males larger with extended fins); Maidenhead Aquatics (fishkeeper.co.uk), Bleeding heart tetra (7 cm; 23–28 °C; pH 5.5–7.0, dH to 12; community with no small fish; bogwood and dense planting; lower levels; males competitive; eartheaters and angelfish; avoid long-finned guppies; now Megalamphodus); Practical Fishkeeping, Heiko Bleher discovers jewels of the Rio Purité (wild fish in blackwater among leaves and wood; groups of never fewer than five; sand, leaves, slow filter); Practical Fishkeeping, 12 great community tank tetras (bentosi tetra, 4 cm, as a smaller alternative); Aquarium Co-Op, Cherry shrimp tank mates (avoid medium to large fish; cichlids hunt shrimp; dense foliage hides babies); Practical Fishkeeping, Can I safely add some shrimp? (any active fish, even a small tetra, sees hatchling shrimp as food; larger shrimp such as Amanos as an alternative); Practical Fishkeeping, What can I keep with shrimp? (larger tetras and barbs likely to eat shrimp in the author's view; build the colony first; hiding places and well-fed fish reduce losses; many fish medications unsafe for invertebrates); The Shrimp Farm, Red rili shrimp tank set-up and care (cherry-type Neocaridina: 65–85 °F, pH 6.2–8.0, GH 4–8). The shared water zone, the high shrimp-risk rating and the stocking suggestions are our own.