Care
Named for their bright red humeral spot, Bleeding heart tetras are naturally found in habitats such as slow-moving creeks, pools and seasonal lakes that provide shelter in the form of waterlogged wood debris or aquatic vegetation. These are typically acidic and full of tanins that stain the water like tea. To really make them feel at home, the aquarium should be generously furnished, with plenty of bogwood and areas of dense planting to emulate this habitat as closely as possible. Unlike many tetras, they prefer the lower levels of the aquarium and will often be found in loose association a little distance apart above the substrate. Bleeding heart tetras are a social species that do best in large groups, although males will exhibit some competitive behaviour. These chunky tetras mix well with larger, placid species such as Eartheaters and Angelfish as well as community fishes too large to swallow. It is not advisable to keep this species alongside fancy long-finned species, such as guppies, as sometimes the elaborate finnage and slow movement can prove too much of a temptation.
A couple of closely-related species could be confused with this fish. M. pyrrhonotus has a patch of colour between the dorsal fin and tail that gives it the name Red-backed bleeding heart and the very similar M. socolofi has less white in the anal fin.
Recent taxonomic work has put this species in the genus Megalamphodus.
Feeding
Flake, micropellets, frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, brineshrimp and daphnia.
Breeding
Difficult. Eggs are scattered amongst Java moss/spawning mops placed on the bottom of the breeding aquarium. Parents should be removed after spawning has ceased in order to prevent predation. The eggs should hatch after 24-36 hours, with the fry becoming free-swimming after 5 days. Juveniles should be offered infusoria as a first food.
