Detailed Information About the Black Tetra Aquarium Fish

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Brief Overview

The Black Skirt Tetra Tropical Aquarium Fish is a fantastic choice for any hobbyist to add to their tank. These little fish pack a TON of personality into their little bodies. Like all tetra, Blue Neon, Black Neon, the Black Skirt Tetra is very peaceful and is most comfortable amongst several of their peers. When purchasing this fish be sure you get a minimum of five, and be sure your tank is 30 gallons at the very least. Be sure your aquarium is well planted as these fish really like to hide and weave in and out of leaves and stalks. Some good plants for the Black Skirt Tetra would be Anubias or Four Leaf Clover. Some great tank mates for this fish would be other Tetra like Blue Neon Tetra, Black Neon Tetra, Albino Cory Catfish, or Harlequin Rasbora.

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Detailed Wikipedia Information

The Black Tetra Tropical Aquarium Fish (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) also known as the black skirt tetra or black widow tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) (which includes all tetras, including the piranha), of order Characiformes. It is native to the Paraguay and Guapora River basins of southern Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia.

The black widow or skirt tetra feeds on small crustaceans, insects, and worms, but can be sustained, not very happily, on only flake food.

Physical description

Growing to about 6 cm (2.5 in) total length, the Black Tetra Tropical Aquarium Fish has a roughly tetragonal body shape and is greyish in colour, fading from light at the nose to near black at the tail. Two prominent black vertical bars appear just posterior of the gills. The white-silvery base will reflect a beautiful sheen at the right angles in your fish tank.

In the aquarium

The Black Skirt Tetra Tropical Aquarium Fish is a common fish that can be readily acquired from aquarium dealers. It requires warm water (78 degrees F or 26 degrees C). This fish, like most tetra aquarium fish, needs soft, acid water, pH 6.5-6.8, with plenty of plants. Although not generally aggressive towards other species, black tetras can be violent amongst themselves, with weaker fishes often chased and nipped by their superiors. The Black Tetra Tropical Aquarium Fish is an omnivore and will eat nearly anything it can fit into its mouth, but care must be taken to ensure that all members of the school receive adequate food. If the food is too large, the tetra will lose interest and leave it to sink and decay, so the size of the food particles must be appropriate. It is best to keep a school of 5 black tetras in a medium tank.

Breeding

The Black Skirt Tetra Tropical Aquarium Fish reaches sexual maturity at about two years of age. They will spawn in water 78 degrees F. A separate spawning tank, heavily planted and at least 15 gallons, is recommended. Like most characins, black tetras spawn by intermittently releasing and fertilizing eggs among the plants. These fish are frequent egg-eaters and must be removed after spawning. The young are easy to raise, subsisting on newly hatched brine shrimp or powdered processed foods.

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