Buenos Aires tetras with shrimp

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

The Buenos Aires tetra is a popular, hardy, silvery characin (Seriously Fish), and most fish in the trade are captive bred (Maidenhead Aquatics). It is Psalidodon anisitsi, sold for years as Hyphessobrycon anisitsi (Seriously Fish). It comes from the Paraná and Uruguay river systems in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay, a subtropical region with mild winters, and Seriously Fish says it is not strictly a tropical fish despite usually being sold as one. A golden albino strain is also common.

Buenos Aires tetra at a glance

Will Buenos Aires tetras eat shrimp?

• Adult shrimp: at risk. None of our sources tested Buenos Aires tetras with shrimp, but Aquarium Co-Op says to avoid medium to large fish with cherry shrimp, and Practical Fishkeeping's Nathan Hill personally counts the larger tetras among fish that will eventually eat shrimp. In our reading a 3-inch, boisterous omnivore can take a small male or a freshly molted cherry.
• 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.
• Eggs and berried females: eggs are safe while carried under the tail, but a stressed female may drop them (our reading).

Treat any shrimp in a Buenos Aires tank as a bonus, and keep a breeding colony on its own. For gentler cool-water choices, compare white cloud minnows with shrimp and medaka with shrimp, or see red-eye tetras with shrimp for another hardy, high-risk tetra and the full cherry shrimp tank mates list.

Matching the water

Seriously Fish lists 61–82 °F, pH 5.5–8.5 and 1–20 dGH, and says the fish should not be kept near the top of that range for long periods. Cherry-type shrimp tolerate 65–85 °F, pH 6.2–8.0 and GH 4–8 (The Shrimp Farm). By our comparison, about 68–75 °F, pH 6.5–7.5 and GH 4–8 suits both, which many homes reach without a heater (check with a thermometer). Practical Fishkeeping warns that moving fish from warm to cooler water should be gradual, because a sudden drop can bring on whitespot. See shrimp tank temperature, GH and KH explained and shrimp water parameters.

Tank size and setup

• Size: Seriously Fish gives a minimum base of 36 × 12 in, about 21 US gallons; Practical Fishkeeping suggests a 48-in tank because they need swimming room.
• Tough plants: Maidenhead Aquatics says they are liable to eat tender plants. In Practical Fishkeeping's temperate tank they nipped the growing tips off Vallisneria but left crypts, Java fern and Hygrophila alone. See best plants for shrimp tanks and java moss for shrimp (we haven't seen a source on whether they eat moss).
• Water movement: Seriously Fish says they appreciate some flow; an air-powered sponge filter gives flow and protects shrimplets (our suggestion). See shrimp-safe filters.
• Mature tank: shrimp need a cycled, stable tank. See how to cycle a shrimp tank.

Group size and behavior

Seriously Fish says a group of at least 8 to 10 is the minimum and that fin nipping is mostly a problem when too few are kept or space is limited. Maidenhead Aquatics describes a fast, boisterous mid-water shoaler. Seriously Fish says mature males are more intensely colored, slimmer and a little smaller than females, and that rival males constantly spar within the group; Maidenhead Aquatics agrees females are larger and heavier.

Other tankmates

Seriously Fish suggests robust characins of similar size, armored and suckermouth catfish, rainbowfish and cyprinids, and says they are not ideal with shy, slow or long-finned fish such as many livebearers, cichlids and anabantoids. Maidenhead Aquatics says a community with no long-finned fish. In a tank with shrimp, stick to peaceful catfish (our suggestion). See corydoras with shrimp, bristlenose plecos with shrimp and serpae tetras with shrimp.

Feeding both

Seriously Fish says they are easily fed and recommends small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp, with flakes and granules that include plant or algal content. Maidenhead Aquatics lists flake, green flake, small pellets, frozen foods and vegetable matter. Feeding some greens may spare your plants a little (our reading). Feed the tetras first, then drop sinking shrimp food into dense cover. See best shrimp food.

How to add Buenos Aires 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 and temperature. 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

• Buying a few small juveniles for a nano tank; they grow to about 3 inches and need a 36- to 48-inch tank.
• Keeping fewer than 8 to 10, which Seriously Fish links to fin nipping.
• Planting soft stem plants and Vallisneria that they will shred.
• Keeping them warm year-round; Seriously Fish says not to hold them near the top of their range for long.

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 Buenos Aires tetras eat cherry shrimp?

They will eat shrimplets, and in our reading small or freshly molted adults are at risk too. They grow to about 3 inches and are boisterous omnivores. We rate them a high risk.

How big do Buenos Aires tetras get?

About 2.4 inches (60 mm standard length) per Seriously Fish, and about 3 inches (7.5 to 8 cm) overall per Practical Fishkeeping and Maidenhead Aquatics.

Do Buenos Aires tetras need a heater?

Often not. Seriously Fish lists 61 to 82 °F and says they are not strictly tropical; Practical Fishkeeping keeps them in a temperate tank. Check your room stays in range.

Do Buenos Aires tetras eat plants?

Yes, soft ones. Maidenhead Aquatics says they eat tender plants, and Practical Fishkeeping saw them nip Vallisneria but leave crypts, Java fern and Hygrophila.

How many Buenos Aires tetras should I keep?

At least 8 to 10 (Seriously Fish). Fewer fish in a small tank are more likely to nip fins.

What size tank do Buenos Aires tetras need?

A base of at least 36 by 12 inches, about 21 US gallons (Seriously Fish); Practical Fishkeeping suggests a 48-inch tank.

Sources: Seriously Fish, Psalidodon anisitsi (Buenos Aires tetra) (popular and hardy; formerly Hyphessobrycon anisitsi; Paraná and Uruguay river systems in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay; subtropical, not strictly tropical; 60 mm SL; base 90 × 30 cm, about 21 US gal; 16–28 °C, not near the top for long; pH 5.5–8.5; 1–20 dGH; better color in a planted set-up; likes some water movement; omnivore, small live and frozen foods, flakes with plant or algal content; fin nipping mostly with too few fish or too little space; group of at least 8–10; boisterous, not for shy, slow or long-finned fish; tankmates; mature males more intensely colored, slimmer and a little smaller, rival males spar; albino strain); Maidenhead Aquatics (fishkeeper.co.uk), Buenos Aires tetra (mostly captive bred; 8 cm; 15–27 °C; pH 6.0–7.5, up to 18 dH; community with no long-finned fish; liable to eat tender plants; fast, boisterous mid-water shoaler; flake, green flake, small pellets, frozen foods and vegetable matter; females larger); Practical Fishkeeping, How to set up a temperate tank that looks tropical (7.5 cm; 120 cm minimum tank; 18–28 °C, pH 6–8; needs swimming room; nipped Vallisneria tips but left crypts, Java fern and Hygrophila; move from tropical to cooler water gradually to avoid whitespot); Aquarium Co-Op, Cherry shrimp tank mates (avoid medium to large fish; 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.