Black Tetra

COMMON NAMES: Black Widow, Black Tetraor (rarely) Petticoat Fish and Blackamoor.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

DESIGNATION: Tropical.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Central South America

SIZE: Approximately 5 cm (2.5 in) for short-finned wild-type but a bit larger for the long-finned cultivated variety.

WATER PREFERENCES: Not critical as long as raw tap water is avoided. Temperature range 24-28°C (75-82°F) - slightly higher for breeding.

DIET: Will eat a wide range of foods but floating/surface insects preferred.

BREEDING: Eggs are scattered among fine-leaved vegetation in a largish tank with slightly or medium hard water. At 30°C (86°F) the eggs hatch in just over two days. Rearing is as for other Tetras.

DESCRIPTION: Black Widows are shoaling fish and should, therefore, not be kept either singly or in pairs. This is predominantly a surface species requiring other mid water and bottom feeders in its tank to ensure that no bits of food are left uneaten.

Black Tetra Information

• The black tetra fish is a very hardy fish and is quite popular among aquarium owners. The fish would prefer to stay in groups and you are advised to keep not less than 6 fish belonging to this variety. The fish can also stay with a school of other tetra fish. This breed of fish is ideal for peaceful community water tank.
• The feeding of the fish is quite easy and several times it has been found that the fish is often over fed. Over feeding of the fish is not good for the health of the fish. It has been seen that the breeding of the fish becomes quite difficult in case it becomes obese. So, amateur fish pet owners should learn to provide the fish with ideal amount of food so that the health of the fish remains fine.
• In wild the fish is found in the river basins of Paraguay and Guaporй River.
• Since the fish is quite hardy it can adapt well in the waters of ph level varying from 6.0 and 8.0 and the hardiness of the water from dH 5 to 20.
• Though it can tolerate a wide range of water temperature but it ideally you should maintain the temperature of the subtropical waters in which it originally thrives. Try to maintain the temperature of the water not less than 20 to 26 degree Celsius. You may keep the fish at little higher temperature than what is mentioned.
• It is quite difficult to identify the male and the female separately. They have more or less similar pigmentation. The female is slightly larger than the male and the belly region is slightly bigger than the male. The fish is also known as the black widow tetra.